Well, that was quick...

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE



-WE'll be back up by tomorrow!



Thanks to some fine pitching by CARDINAL DOMINANCE recruiting and basketball guru Donald Yaste...CARDINAL COUPLE will be back up and fully rolling (including design and admin privileges) by Thursday afternoon. He was the "missing admin" and got us back on the admin list.



Can't tell you how much these last 48 hours have worn on the staff and owners here at CARDINAL COUPLE. To create something, then have it invaded and then eventually being denied access to it...well, it isn't exactly pleasurable.



To those who have offered assistance, paced the floor with us and supplied aid...we offer a sincere and humble "thank you." We would be nothing without you. A fan site, obviously, it dependant on the fan base and we think we've got the best bunch of fans out there.



A word on Donald, you can catch his excellent commentary and critiques on UofL men's basketball over at http://www.cardinaldominance.net/ HE has also co-hosted the CARDINAL DOMINANCE show and was a fairly decent soccer player in high school. We hope he'll stop by here now and then to update us on the fortunes of Pitino's bunch.



See you tomorrow..full speed ahead. Have fun at CARDINAL CARAVAN..we'll have reader reports for you tomorrow...



CARDINAL COUPLE



(You might check out Bill the Goat's site for a bit of fun..we posted there earlier today before we got Donald's e-mail that he restored us as administrators...) Click on it over at "Sites we recommend" over on the newly updated, infamous "left side of the blog."

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Cardinal Dominance - Cardinal Couple 2011 NCAA Tournament Challenge at ESPN with FREE PRIZES!

Even though we are primarily about women's sports here at CARDINAL COUPLE..we think this could be big fun and encourage you to fill out a bracket and participate. WE are glad to team up once again with the recruiting and baseball boys over at CARDINAL DOMINANCE and offer you, our readers, this contest. And, get 'em girls! Let's show these guys that bracketology isn't just a guy thing. Wipe your feet on the mat, too...boys, before you try and get in this house.

WE Also encourage you to enter the NCAA Women's Tournament Bracket Selection over at ESPN also. You'll find our selections in the Fans of Louisville group. (StrongNordicSonja and Cardinal Couple) And, finally...above. That's Paul's bracket picks for the men. You are strongly advised to ignore it in its entirety. Right clicking and opening the file will only bring you pain and sorrow.

Just like every season, here is our annual NCAA Tournament Challenge! Brought to you by Cardinal Dominance, Cardinal Couple, Rick and Jeff Tours, Fanscloset and Viscardi Designs!

Since it is so fun for Miss Sonja and Tricky Nik to beat up on Paul and I in every contest they enter, and being the gluttons for punishment that we are, we figure we can be their punching bags again in this outing as well.....:-) Par for the course for Paul and I. They are women; Hear them roar, as Paul and I try once again to illustrate that we are actually not as dumb as we look.

We need your help in giving Sonja and Nikki a run for their money in the bracket picks. Bring your best bracket, and help Paul and I show the girls that men are good for more than trimming Taxus bushes and lending a hand to assist with unruly Yorkies from time to time....

Every person for themselves, and God for us all....

GOOD LUCK and GO CARDS in Denver!

Group Name: Cardinal Dominance

Prizes:

$25 Rick and Jeff Tours Gift Certificate

$25 Fanscloset Promo Code

$50 Viscardi Designs Gift Certificate

Entrants may change their selections as often as they like prior to the scheduled tip-off time of the first game in the second round of the tournament (currently scheduled for the morning of Thursday, March 17, 2011) after which all selections must be finalized.

(Owner's note)...This contest is run through ESPN and this means that I don't have to track results after each game and round. I dig that the most!
Now...on to the losing selections...
-Paul
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Lady Cards face Dayton Saturday as part of doubleheader

FRIDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE


-Two in the Yum tomorrow

-Good luck Soccer!

-Rockcastle County and Hammond

-Getting to know: Bethann Shapiro Ord

-Bowl Pick 'em gets enhanced...


Two games Saturday in the KFC YUM Downtown Arena, with Rick Pitino's team facing UNLV at noon and Jeff Walz's Lady Cards hosting Dayton at 5 p.m. A great sports day for the college basketball fan and one of those rare occasions where both UofL basketball teams play on the same day. Neither contest will be easy for the home teams. UNLV whipped the Cardinals last year in Sin City and they're showing no signs of slowing down this year. Jeff Walz's Lady Cards are 7-5 lifetime against the Dayton Flyers and hold a three game win streak currently over the Ohio dwellers.

Dayton (5-3) is led by junior 6'1" forward Justine Raterman and 6'0" senior guard Kristin Daughtery. Raterman is good for 17.1 ppg and Daughtery averages 14.6 a game. Former Louisville Manual star Brittany Wilson is a redshirt sophomore for the Flyers and pops in 8.8 per contest.

The Flyers have knocked off Cincinnati, Toledo, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wright State this year and lost to Penn St., Mich St., and UIC.

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Best of luck to the University of Louisville soccer team today in their game against North Carolina in the FINAL FOUR of NCAA Men's Soccer in Santa Barbara, CA. The team received a tremendous send off Weds. from fans in the YUM Center and is currently ranked #1 in the nation. Our co-horts over at Cardinal Dominance and UofL Card Game are providing great coverage and photos of Ken Lolla's quest to bring back a National Championship title and trophy to the "Ville".


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Rockcastle County takes to the hardwood tonight and Sara Hammond and her teammates face a very tough Scott County. Rockcastle County is 2-0 on the season so far and is considered one of the probables to show up in the Sweet Sixteen Tournament in March. Louisville signee Hammond is one of the best in the state and her versatility on the court will procure significant moments for her on Denny Crum Court when she arrives at Louisville.

Marion County hits the hardwood tonight also. Go Bre, Makayla and Kyvin!


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Bethann Shapiro Ord is one of the assistant coaches for the University of Louisville women's basketball team. It's her fourth year here at the "Ville"...coming on board when Jeff Walz took the head coaching job. Ord came in from Colorado. Ord has been a key part of Louisville bringing in back to back to back stellar recruiting classes during her time here and the current freshman class was ranked 5th. in the nation. Bethann began her coaching career at Pittsburgh in 1992. She played her college ball at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and was a three year point guard and letter winner for the Retrievers.


Ord comes from an athletic background, her Dad is a recently retired athletic director, her Mom a head coach for 20 years. She has a younger sister that is a deputy director of athletics development at Columbia and her brother is a head coach. Some say Bethann bears a striking resemblance to actress Meredith Eaton-Gilden, who had a recurring role on BOSTON LEGAL as Bethanny...William Shatner's love interest.


We'll try to introduce all the Lady Cards coaches and staff as the season progresses...and now you know a little more about Bethann Ord...



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CARDINAL DOMINANCE has joined forces with CARDINAL COUPLE to offer the readers a free College Bowl Game Pick 'Em. 35 games that begin Dec. 18th. A full description of the contest and the prizes that will be awarded is available over at http://www.cardinaldominance.net/

It's free to play, you can make all your picks at one time or in sections and you could win some great prizes from FansCloset, Viscardi Designs or Panera Bread. You can submit your entries over there or e-mail them to us here at cardinalcouple@insightbb.com

Games begin on Dec. 18th, so get to work on those picks!

Field Hockey downs Providence 2-1

SUNDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Field Hockey prospers over Providence

-Volleyball today in the Arena

-Football cages the Huskies

-About next week...

Erin Conrad, pictured here...had seven saves and allowed only one goal in the Louisville 2-1 win over the Friars.

The first half of this one was a defensive battle. Providence actually outshot the visiting TEAM CARDINAL 9-4 in the first half but neither team could find the back of the net. It was the Friars who ended the deadlock early in the second half off of a penalty corner play.

Louisville wasn't ready to head back to the Holiday Inn Express just yet, though. The Cards capitalized on a penalty corner a few minutes later...Nicole Youman getting the goal on nice setups from Hayley Turner and Tuli Lim. The score remained deadlocked until Lim stuck home the game winner on a pass from Kelsey Rossenmeier with less than nine minutes to go in the game.

With the win, the #10 ranked Cards (12-5, 5-1) end their BIG EAST conference play. They'll take on New Hampshire Sunday and then back to the 'Ville.

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Louisville Volleyball takes center stage Sunday with a match in Cardinal Arena against South Florida. This one will be televised on WHAS TV locally if you can't get to the 1 p.m. first serve.

Volleyball is on a roll lately. Seven wins in a row and Lola Arslanbeckova spiking everything in site expect for the sideline Gatorade.

Also, women's soccer remains on the road with a Sunday showdown at Rutgers.

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How about those football Cards? A 26-0 caging of the UConn Huskies yesterday. Charlie Strong has got it going on for the guys in helmets. Louisville (4-3, 1-1) got four field goals from Chris Philpott and an electrifying 74 yd. punt return from Doug Beaumont.

And, Sonja and I decided to climb Mt. Everest at halftime. We left our "crunch zone" seats at the end of the first half and our objective was to walk to the very top of the east side seating area. Accompanied by a couple of friends, we started the journey by going up the steps behind the "crunch zone" to the UPS Observation Deck. Then, it was weeding our way through the packed deck to the ramp that leads up to the new east side addition. We negotiated the ramp and then the never ending steps that lead to the top of PJCS east side.

The view is incredible from up there. Churchill Downs in the distance. The players look so tiny from up there. It took us the entire halftime intermission to get there. We stayed long enough to watch Doug Beaumont run a punt back for a score...then it was back down. We avoided the still crowded deck this time and did the ramp all the way to the bottom of the Pizza Bowl. We were back in our seats with eight minutes to go in the third quarter.

It's a taxing hike to get up there, for sure...but well worth it when you get to the top. Not ready to give up my fifth row seats in the southwest corner of the "crunch zone", though.

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Have we got a treat for you! Cardinal Dominance managing editor Shannon Ruffra and UofL Card Game owner Charlie Springer will be supplying the daily topics here at C.C. over the next several days while the staff at CARDINAL COUPLE takes a few days off. You're gonna love both these guys and we encourage you to check their sites daily as well as reading their submissions here this week.

Women's Basketball Tipoff Luncheon set

CARDINAL COUPLE TUESDAY:

-Lady Cards basketball luncheon

-Two targets for Lady Cards hoops

-USA goes to 4-0

-It's not easy being us

The University of Louisville Women's Basketball luncheon is set for Tuesday, October 26th., at noon, in the Spirit Room of the KFC Yum! Center. Tickets for the event are $25 or you can reserve a table of 8 for $250. Seats can be purchased by calling the UofL Special Events office at 502.852.8872. For those who prefer to do it by fax, a downloadable form can be found at http://www.uoflsports.com/

Jeff Walz should have plenty to talk about at meal time. A very successful recruiting class is on campus and will challenge the staus quo of Louisville starters returning form last season. High profile target Sara Hammond verballed to the Cards a couple of weeks ago for the 2011 class...joining Quaneisha McCurty and transfer Cierra Warren.

These are fun affairs, so hurry and get your seats reserved...since they are first come, first served.

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Speaking of the class of 2011, add a couple more names to the list of players that Walz is interested in. Erika Johnson is a 6'1" wing out of Holy Names Academy High School in Seattle, Washington. She's ranked 21st overall by ESPN and 3rd at her position. Walz recently made a in-home visit with Johnson and she's considering Louisville, North Carolina, Washington and California last we checked.

Johnson is very athletic and has versatile skills. Likes to drive to the basket but can pull up and hit the mid-range jumper with accuracy. No problem with posting up smaller players and can pull off Angel-type moves when driving in the paint. She's extremely quick and creates her share of havoc on defense. She was selected to first team All State in 2010. Could use a little more work from three point range but runs the transition game very well

Markisha Wright, a 6'3" post out of Des Moines East High School in Iowa is a strong, dominating player in the paint who also had surprising speed for a "big". She's an excellent defender as well. Wright looks for the ball down low and is ranked #23 at her position. She needs to improve her shot range and struggles in the half court at times...but is improving quickly as she enters her senior season. She dominated the other centers over the summer in AAU ball. Jeff Walz has scheduled an in-home visit with her...she has not narrowed down a list of final suitors yet.

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Team USA goes to 4-0 in the FIBA World Championships with a romp of Canada on Monday 87-46. This one was never in question...USA roared out to a 47-25 lead and was up 66-38 after three. Head coach Geno Auriemma used a lot of different combinations in this one and none of the players reached double figures.

Belarus awaits USA on Tuesday and the long awaited matchup with Australia happens Wednesday. Daily viewing packages (good for 24 hours) can be purchased for on-line viewing at http://www.fiba.com/

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It all started out innocently enough. CARDINAL COUPLE was ready and willing to get the word out about the Saturday "white out" in Field Hockey against Notre Dame. WE were good kids and fed the information to our allies in the cold cruel world of non-corporate blogging...namely Cardinal Dominance and UofL Card Game. Articles appeared at both sites, as well as here at CARDINAL COUPLE...giving readers the "411" on the event. WE were glad to do it. WE'D like a big "white-out" turnout and hope the attendance record is broken that day. WE'VE ensured that CARDINAL COUPLE will have coverage of the heralded event...even though a couple of us will be unable to attend due to a prior commitment.

WE had a little concern over the fact that a certain, un-named entity was hyping the event to a source that does very little with women's sports and chose them to contact with a request to help promote...while ignoring us. There is a daily quest that WE have here at CARDINAL COUPLE... to provide our vast readership of the "who, what, where, why, when and how" of Cardinal Women's Athletics. Maybe WE'RE not schmoozing the right people...WE got the information second hand.

WE addressed it. Maybe WE shouldn't have. WE did anyway. Do you call a plumber when you're looking for electrical assistance?

What WE got was a mixed bag of goodies. WE were granted access to and the promise of interviews with Cardinal Field Hockey coaches and players on Thursday and WE will post them up in Friday's edition. WE'RE looking forward to that. What WE also got was a rather brusque communique of the procedures involved in obtaining such interviews and the dichotomy of being granted updates of women's sports at UofL. WE were also informed of our failure to follow guidelines in the procedures of being granted such information. Although the intent was well meant and appreciated...it also left us with the feeling that WE'd done something wrong.

WE appreciate the daily efforts of those who provide information and handle the marketing of athletic sports programs. Theirs can't be an easy job. WE realize that "CC" is just a small fish (but with a voracious appetite) when it comes to media coverage.... be it corporate or not...for or not for profit...and the like...concerning UofL women's athletics. WE are non-profit, always will be and WE try to design our coverage with the fan's viewpoint in mind.

WE'RE like you..WE work for a living. WE have budgets, bills and "X" amount of money to go around. WE'RE prudent and selective on where our entertainment dollar goes. Sometimes, WE fear WE are a dying breed out there...in terms of independent blogging, but WE carry on with it. It's a passion, not a salaried position. WE can't even afford a "stand-alone" .com or .net website that would probably increase our readership. WE are proud of the meteoric increase of our daily traffic each month, though. The seedling has grown into a viable tree in the forest of independent sports blogs and sites. Our popularity amongst readers, coaches, current and former athletes is truly humbling and something WE are a bit amazed and honored by.

When CARDINAL COUPLE first began to post to the internet, WE decided that official women's sports news releases might be a good way to keep us informed...so WE could keep you the reader informed. WE requested to be included on the list of people, organizations and media outlets who get these reports. It never happened. WE were told that we did not request such communications. Maybe the requests got chewed up in cyberspace. All we know is that WE did request. WE saved the sent e-mails to the various people in charge of doing it. Maybe they went to spam. It's happened before.

WE'RE trying to provide you, the reader...with information on ALL women's sports at UofL. WE don't cherry pick the most popular ones (although WE have an affinity for women's basketball) and WE certainly don't play favorites. WE'LL continue to do so...whether WE get "included in the loop" or not. WE'D like to provide you with the best coverage WE can. WE'RE encouraged that WE'LL be able to do so and the fact that WE might possibly start getting official updates is appreciated and can only help us inform you better. Fingers crossed. WE'VE received the utmost in courtesy and respect whenever WE'VE requested coverage clearance and media access to UofL women's sporting activities. This, WE appreciate. It helps us provide you with better coverage and information. WE'D attend anyway...WE'RE fans as well as observers.

Never thought that promoting something WE love to follow and support could be so darned tricky. WE'LL be here, though...and hope you will, too. And WE encourage you to support all women's athletics at UofL. Go to the matches and games. Cheer on the student athletes participating. Represent your University proudly. WE'LL fill in the blanks for you when you can't.

This isn't a rant and it's certainly not an attack of the top notch, excellent work done by those diligent staffers and administrators on college campuses. It is merely a observation on the irony of how sometimes those 'who would like...don't receive' and 'those who don't care...end up with the goods'. Although WE do like to have fun with fictitious departments, characters and scenarios here at CARDINAL COUPLE...our reporting is serious and updated daily.

WE thank you for reading.

Women's Golf in Fifth Place in Colorado

TUESDAY @THE COUPLE


- UofL women's golf starts the season

-Lady Cards exhibition hoops

-Game watch party!

The University of Louisville women's golf team got their 2010-11 season
underway this weekend in the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic in Fort Collins, CO. The Cards are tied for fifth after two rounds of play...Sara Maude-Juneau leading the way with a two round score of 75-67 for a 142 total.

Anna-Karin Ljungstrom (pictured right) is at 144. Sophomore Candace Wiley put together a 75-73 two day total and is tied for 31st. Maria Castellanos sits at 155 and freshman Tara Lyons debuts as a Cardinal at 158.

Injured Laura Anderson did not make the trip and Maike Klien fired a 160 as the Cards alternate. The Cards share 5th place with Illinois and Oregon...the host Colorado State leads with a two day total of 578...Louisville scoring 585.

Juneau had three birdies and an eagle in round two to highlight the competing Cards. The teams finish up the three day event today with a 8:30 a.m.shotgun start. (Many is the time I wished I had access to a shotgun on the links...)

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We know now who Jeff Walz's Lady Cards will debut against and it will be in the form of an exhibition game against Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 30th. in the KFC YUM! Center. Game time hasn't been set yet...pending the start time of the Louisville football game against Pitt in Heinz Field that day. Best guess? This BIG EAST matchup isn't one that will be designated as the BIG EAST Game of the Week...too many other and better conference matchups that day...so I predict a 3:30 kickoff and Walz Ball at 7:30 p.m.

Just a guess...knowing the BIG EAST...they'll sell the game to ESPN Ocho Cinco and the gridiron gainers will match up at noon or 7:30 p.m. You just never know about the BIG EAST and their scheduling theories...

Indiana Wesleyan is no hand-picked patsy designed to come in and roll over for the Lady Cards. They went 29-7 last year in the MCC and made it to the semifinals of the NAIA Tournament Championships in March.

The Marion, Indiana school has depth, height and shot well from the perimeter last year. It'll be a good preseason test for the young Lady Cards...with seven new players and only two seniors on the roster this year. OK...it isn't Stanford or Baylor...but the Cards will get tested soon enough...opening the season a few days later against Pat Summit's Tennessee Lady Vols in the downtown Yummy! arena.

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Our pals over at CARDINAL DOMINANCE are inviting all to a UofL football game watch party at TAILGATERS for the Oregon State contest. Louisville travels to Corvallis...by plane, train and automobile I suppose...to face the powerful Beavers. The Dominance guys plan on kicking the festivities off at 4 p.m. and food and drink specials will be available at the establishment next to the Parrish House.

No idea on which channel this one is on as of article time. Shannon, Terry, Bill the Goat and Murray the K invite you to join other Cardinal football fans for a fun and action packed afternoon of football viewing. WE'LL probably load up the chimps and a few interns and attend the event. Read all about it by clicking on the link we have here at CC for CD.

This one could get ugly early if Louisville decides to score in only one quarter...like they did against perennial Ohio Valley Conference FCS power EKU. Just put some hogs on the line and give Abe Froman, the Chicago sausage king, a little time to chuck a few missiles down the field.

You ain't gonna be able to run against these Beavers...Charlie.

Saturday in Cardinal Park

Saturday night at Cardinal Park featured both the women's field hockey and soccer teams in exhibition action. Haley Jurich (pictured to the right) had 3 goals in the 8-1 win for Pam Bustin's squad against the alumnae. Caitlin Rehder (pictured to the left) scored the UofL women's soccer teams' only goal in a 2-1 loss to Tennessee.

The field hockey Cards scored 4 goals in each half in a highly competitive game against the alumnae. Nicole Youman added 2 scores for Louisville. Over 40 alumnae turned out for the event. Field hockey continues the preseason schedule next Saturday...with a 1 p.m. scrimmage at Trager Field against Kent State.

On the soccer field, Louisville rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to get within 1 against the Vols and had several late scoring chances but couldn't find the net.

Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes take on the exhibition:

"Obviously, you never like to lose and this game exposed some weaknesses where we must get better, but we're certainly an improved team. I liked out heart as the game moved forward and we're absolutely moving in the right direction."

The Louisville women's soccer season gets its official start Friday, August 20th at 7 p.m. when the Cards host Eastern Kentucky.

(Thanks to UofL Sports.com for the photos and recap)

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The Atlanta Dream ended a four game losing streak and clinched a WNBA playoff berth with a dominating 98-74 win over the Chicago Sky yesterday in the Windy City. This one was over at the half...as Atlanta outscored the Sky 31-11 in the second quarter and took a 57-32 lead into the locker room.

Five Dream players hit for double figures in the contest. Erika DeSouza led the way with 17 points. Iziane Castro Maquez added 15, Angel Mccoughtry 13 and Alison Bales and Armintie Price with 10 each. The Dream hosts Chicago and Washington to end the regular season next week.

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Big fun at the CARDINAL DOMINANCE pre-season tailgate party yesterday. Over 40 people showed up to engage in conversation, delicious food and games. Despite the heavy rainfall that roared thru the Louisville area around 5 p.m., the attendees were still able to enjoy a deluxe cookout...with Cardinal Dominance founder Shannon Ruffra and your own Paul Sykes manning the grill and several hours of fun bean bag (cornhole) tossing.

Paul and Eddie won the championship division of the cornhole event, upsetting the highly favored Shannon and party host Terry Jackson. Terry's posted some great photos and video of the gala affair over at:

www.cardinaldominance.ning.com

Yeah, I'm the guy in the Jim Beam t-shirt and the lovely and talented Sonja thrilled the crowd by ripping her shorts wide open early in the afternoon when attempting to climb a fence. (don't ask...). It was a great time and we got to meet a bunch of knowledgeable and fun Cardinal Football fans. A special thanks to "Ter" who hosted the event and all those who braved the weather and showed up.

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Manual High School won the Gold Division of the Chase Marketing/Shively Sporting Goods Jefferson County Public Schools Volleyball Championships with over Eastern 25-18, 27-29, 25-14. Mechael Guess led the Crimsons with 14 kills.

In the Silver Division, Fern Creek swept Seneca in the the match 25-16, 25-21. Moore took the honors in the Bronze Division...besting Central 25-22, 25-21.

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Nice work from BIG TALL PAUL in the 8th race at Ellis Park yesterday...wiring the field to win at odds of 11-1. He covered the one mile turf in 1:38.19 and set up a sweet exacta for $624.60 on the $2 payout.

Lady Cards Soccer promotes Singer to associate coach

We brought you the story several days ago about Kim Sharo signing with UofL to play soccer. The key component in getting her to the Lady Cards soccer team, Kyle Singer, has been elevated to associate coach by University of Louisville head womens' Karen Ferguson-Dayes.

Singer has been an assistant coach for the Cards for three years. He has a long history of playing and coaching soccer, getting his collegiate start as a goalkeeper at the University of Virginia. After three years with the Cavs, Singer transferred to Boston College and took over goalkeeping duties there. the Eagles advanced to the Elite Eight in 2002 and Singer was selected BIG EAST goalkeeper of the year, honorable mention All-American, and First team All-BIG EAST. After graduation, he was drafted by the New England Revolution in the 2002 MLS Super Draft and spent three seasons playing professionally.

Coaching was the next step and Singer served as an assistant at Northeastern, Boston College and Minnesota before coming to Louisville.

Singer gives credit to the braintrust at UofL for his promotion and growth:

"I am extremely grateful to both Karen and Tom Jurich for providing me with this opportunity. The support for both me and my family from UofL over the last three years has been amazing. I believe that the soccer program at UofL is capable of achieving great things in the coming years. I look forward to continuing to help provide our players with opportunities to be successful on the field, in the classroom and in life beyond their college years."

It looks like Dayes has kicked one into the back of the net with the hire and promotion of Singer. Let's hope he can help get the Soccer Cards back to a better than .500 record on the field. Let's also hope he doesn't introduce those annoying horns we had to endure during World Cup action to the Belknap Campus.

Women's soccer kicks off the 2010 season in one month with an exhibition game against Tennessee on Saturday, August 14th at 7 p.m. at Cardinal Park. Admission is free and a soccer clinic will be provided by members of the UofL team from 5-6 p.m. The regular season gets underway Friday, August 2oth at 7 p.m. against Eastern Kentucky at Cardinal Park.

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CARDINAL COUPLE has joined forces with CARDINAL DOMINANCE to provide coverage of women's sports at the University of Louisville. We previously co-sponsored the combined message board for both sites with them but have decided to simplified and strengthen. Not that we want you to desert and abandon our site here...but Shannon's blog over at CARDINAL DOMINANCE is well worth a look and browse session if you enjoy college sports. We have it linked up on our home page.

CARDINAL DOMINANCE is one of the first websites that we here at CARDINAL COUPLE submitted articles and comments to before the creation of CARDINAL COUPLE. Shannon's coverage of baseball, basketball and football at the University of Louisville is top notch and he has several very good and knowledgable regular contributors over there that also provide readers with information that is essential if you want to be "in the know" about Louisville athletics.

It was Shannon and Terry that carried the banner for UofL baseball this past season, providing the most complete and comprehensive coverage of Dan McDonnell's team on the internet. They also are pretty good with the camera as well and you'll enjoy the huge photo galleries over there. Never take on those boys in a game of cornhole, either...they're sharks.

Their football coverage is already well into full swing and they'll be your eyes and ears at Charlie Strong's fall practices.

We will be posting there and hope you'll take the time to check out DOMINANCE. You won't be sorry. www.cardinaldominance.ning.com

Lacrosse part of a busy sports weekend

Louisville lacrosse hosts Connecticut Friday at 5 p.m. A busy weekend for women's sports at UofL with the softball team at home against St. John, the Cards track and field taking part in the Penn Relays and...oh, yeah...Saturday is opening day at Churchill. Read below for an exciting and important announcement, too...about another way to read about and discuss UofL women's sports.

The University of Louisville lacrosse team continues Big East action with UConn coming to town for a 5 p.m. match at the Cardinals lacrosse stadium. The Cards (8-5, 1-3) are coming off a win at home against Jacksonville and UConn rolls in after losing to Loyola, MD. on Sunday.

WHAS TV will show a delayed broadcast of the match Monday 1:30 AM with Gary Fogle and Patty Norton providing the commentary. Cardinal Bergan Folly leads the NCAA in goals scored per game.

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You wanted it, you got it. CARDINAL COUPLE has joined forces with CARDINAL DOMINANCE to provide sports fans with a message board. This exciting endeavor now gives all Cardinal Fans another place to voice your opinion about UofL athletics. We have a link to CARDINAL DOMINANCE on our home page, once you get there...simply take a minute to sign up for the boards and follow the link. You'll find several links available, including the CARDINAL COUPLE women's sports board.

CARDINAL DOMINANCE is owned and operated by our buddy Shannon Rufra. He devotes a great deal of time covering UofL sports and provides top flight coverage of Cardinal football, baseball and basketball. Both Sonja and I were regular posters and are still avid readers and contributors to his site. We'll provide daily updates over there as well and we invite you to take part in the fun we expect to create over there.

Shannon has a great photo gallery up of the recent UofL baseball teams win over WKU Wednesday night and a couple of pictures of me and head basketball coach Jeff Walz. While you are there, make sure to check out the videos he has of Louisville football and baseball.

One thing is for sure, Shannon's commentary and coverage of Louisville athletics is unique, comprehensive and never boring. We are happy to be his "source in the know" for UofL women's sports and to be working with him again.

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I know, I know...it's a busy weekend ahead with the marathon, balloon race, opening day at Churchill and all kinds of UofL sports activities. Almost impossible to get to all the activities going on this weekend but CARDINAL COUPLE will definitely at opening day at Churchill. The Derby Trial, which has diminished in importance over the last several years, is once again a viable road to the first Saturday in May, and a full field of ten horses are expected to enter and try to earn a spot for the Derby. PLEASANT PRINCE, AIKENITE and EIGHTYFIVEINAFIFTY could gain entrance to the Derby with a win in the Derby Trial. We love EIGHTFIVEINAFIFTY but also will be on the lookout for GAME ON DUDE..a Bob Baffert horse that gets Robby Albarado in the saddle and HURRICANE IKE with Calvin Borel getting the assignment.

Happy Derby Week to you!

Written by Paul
4/23/10

Too good to pass on...

Found this candid of our buddy Shannon over at Cardinal Dominance and Louisville sportscasting legend Bob Domine mugging for the camera at a UofL football practice shortly before Domine left to attend the University of Louisville softball game Wednesday night.

Not enough can be said about Bob's devotion and attendance to the University of Louisville's womens' sports programs. You see Bob at all the Lady Cards basketball games, he also attends Cardinal volleyball, softball...well, it can be said that Bob is a huge fan and we thank him for his attendance, support and loyalty.

Shannon, the owner and managing editor of Cardinal Dominance keeps his plate full with excellent coverage of Cardinal football, baseball and hoops. He's a must read, his breakdown, analysis and coverage of practices, games and team makeup and posistion depth is well research and very insightful. We here at Cardinal Couple owe Shannon a BIG debt of gratitiude for helping us get our feet wet with blogging and, along with Charlie Springer at UofL Card Game and Howie Lindsey at Cardinal Sports.com...they are our patron saints of journalism.

Charlie Springer taught me pretty much everything I know about writing a concise, informative and relative sports column and it's always a joy to run into him and his lovely wife Barbara at UofL sporting events. He always puts up with my occasional cantakerous nature and gladly posts my articles about Lady Cards basketball on his site.

Before I get all misty eyed and start blabbing about all the wonderful opportunities these guys have so graciously provided us with over the years, I'll leave you with this...

Please patronize their sites (You'll find a link to them on the left hand side of our posts) and tell a buddy, invite a friend.

Written by Sonja
4/8/10