Cards Defeat No. 9 Syracuse 3-2 on Senior Day

Saturday, November 1

LOUISVILLE, KY

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

(8-9, 2-6)

Syracuse

(11-5, 3-5)

Syracuse

Louisville

November 01, 2025 | Field Hockey

Box Score Justine Sowry Postgame Interview Justine Sowry on the 2025 senior class Photo Gallery

Louisville earns the No. 8 seed in the ACC tournament and will face No. 1 North Carolina Tuesday at 10 a.m.

By: Emil Schmidt

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville field hockey team defeated No. 9-ranked Syracuse 3-2 in an Atlantic Coast Conference battle Saturday afternoon at Trager Stadium in both teams' regular season finale.

With the win, the Cardinals (8-9, 2-6 ACC) earned the No.8 seed in the ACC Tournament and will face No.1 North Carolina Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Trager Stadium.

"We knew the importance of today's game," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "Obviously if we win, we're in the tournament and if we lose, we're hosting a tournament we're not in. We really tried to stay focused throughout the week and it was all about the process and stick to Louisville field hockey. We had some strategies about how to play against a really talented Syracuse lineup."

Louisville held the lead throughout the game and held off a fierce attack by Syracuse (11-5, 3-5 ACC) en route to the win. Overall, Syracuse outshot Louisville 14-7 and held an 8-2 penalty corner advantage, including seven in the second half. Louisville goalkeeper Emily Young collected three saves, while Jessie Eiselin and Tane King had one stop a piece for the Orange.

The Cardinals attacked early in the second quarter with two shots in the first three minutes and drawing a corner with 19 seconds into the frame. Junior Annabel Sep shot was turned back, which led to a Louisville goal off of a penalty stroke by sophomore Aubreigh Uba for her third goal of the season.

Louisville entered the locker room with a 1-0 lead after leading shots on goal by a 3-1 advantage. The teams were even 1-1 in penalty corners.

After the break, Louisville maintained the momentum as senior Rylie Wollerton received a pass from Trijntje Herfkens and scored 1:29 into the third quarter, marking her team-best 10th goal of the season.

The Orange responded with 3:18 left in the third quarter with a goal by Danique Schurrman. Syracuse was awarded two more penalty corners after the goal. This time Louisville's defense stayed strong and blocked both attempts, keeping the score at 2-1 through three quarters.

Louisville added another goal in the 47th minute of the frame. Wollerton delivered a shot that was saved by King. Junior Tyler Everslage connected on the rebound, collecting her third goal of the season, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

Syracuse answered with a goal by Patti Strunk with 8:22 to go in the fourth quarter, cutting Louisville's lead to one.

With 6:28 left in the fourth quarter, King was lifted in favor of an extra field player. Four minutes later, a yellow card forced Louisville to play short handed the rest of the game. The Cardinals held off the persistent Orange offense to secure the 3-2 victory.

"The only way we were going to win was if we stuck to the game plan and we connected with one another and not force the play," said Sowry. "There were some of those that were really tense and scary and we absorbed a lot of pressure, but at the end of the day, we squeaked our way in and I couldn't be happier for our seniors right now."