Cards Take Down No. 14 Ohio State 3-2

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville field hockey team defeated No. 14 Ohio State 3-2 Friday evening at Trager Stadium.

"I was a little bit nervous in the front end of the game, because putting together consistent performances has been one of our challenges this season," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "Our team took control today, and I'm very proud of them, their effort, their smarts. Ohio State is a very good team, they pressed us very well and played fast."

Louisville (4-3) jumped ahead with back-to-back goals by Rylie Wollerton and Gracie Potter the second quarter and took a 2-1 lead into halftime. The Cards stretched the lead again with a goal by Gigi Edwards and held off an offensive surge by the Buckeyes to prevail 3-2.

In the game, Louisville outshot Ohio State 17-15 with a 10-8 edge in shots on goal and 7-5 advantage in penalty corners. Emily Young collected four saves with Emily Eaton and Chloe Cuzzupe also registering defensive saves for the Cardinals' defense. Maddie Steven had seven stops for the Buckeyes (3-4).

The teams were evenly matched throughout the game starting with a scoreless first quarter which saw the Buckeyes own a 4-3 edge in shots and each team earning a pair of corners.

Louisville broke through early in the second quarter when Trijntje Herfkens sent a long pass from beyond the 25-yard line and found Wollerton who sent the ball into the cage for her team-best sixth goal of the season. Less than a minute, Potter connected on a rebound from Annabel Sep's penalty corner shot to make the score 2-0.

Ohio State answered with just under two minutes remaining in the frame when Makenna Webster converted on a pass from Autum Kernechel to pull the Buckeyes within a goal as the game entered halftime.

After the break, the Cardinals struck again midway through the third quarter. This time during a scramble in front of the cage, Wollerton connected with Edwards to make the score 3-1.

With 3:57 left in regulation, Ohio State lifted goalkeeper Maddie Stevens in favor of an extra field player and the move quickly paid off with a goal from Sienna Golden to pull the Buckeyes within a goal with 3:28 on the clock.

Both teams held possession in their offensive circles in the final minutes of the game, but the final score stood at 3-2.

"We were able to handle the speed at which they were playing and we just got a little bit of momentum as the game went on," said Sowry. "It always helps when you can score early in the game - overall I'm ecstatic that this team earned a win. Plenty of lessons to take away from a game management standpoint and when teams take their goalkeeper out as well so a lot to learn, but a great game overall."

Louisville will continue its stretch against ranked teams on Sunday when the Cards travel to No. 15 Saint Joseph's for a 12 p.m. matchup.

NOTES:
- Friday's win over Ohio State marked Louisville first over a ranked opponent since November 11, 2023 when the Cards defeated No. 8 Iowa in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Evanston, Ill.
- The last time UofL defeated a ranked team at home was a 2-1 win against then-No. 18 Ohio State on Sept. 8, 2023.
- Louisville has now played three straight top-15 teams in the past week starting with last Friday's 2-1 overtime loss to No. 1 Northwestern and followed by a 5-1 setback against then-No. 15 Iowa on Sunday.

University of Louisville Athletics

Players Mentioned

Chloe Cuzzupe

Emily Eaton

Gigi Edwards

Trijntje Herfkens

Gracie Potter

Annabel Sep

Rylie Wollerton

Emily Young

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