Sunday funday! Where will you find your fun at today?

Today brings more opportunities to watch some women’s athletics on the court or on the field. 

First up for the day is Field Hockey.   They opened play against Big East competition on Friday night and came away with the win outscoring Georgetown 4-2. 

The Hoyas scored early, and twice.  With a little more than 10 minutes into the game the Hoyas led the Cardinals 2-0.  Before halftime the Cardinals had it all knotted up at 2-2.  Cardinals came out in the second half and held the Hoyas scoreless while adding two of their own.  Cards win, 4-2.  The team heads to Kent State University whom they will face at a 12:00 p.m. start time.  Good luck and safe travels Field Hockey. 

The Women’s Soccerteam played Friday night at home against Syracuse.  The game ended in a tie, after going to double overtime.  Sounds like Coach Karen Fergusen-Days was none to pleased with her dribblers on the field after the Friday night effort.   Coach is quoted as saying “ I am really disappointed in our effort in the first half of play….and am at loss for words. “  Coach goes on to state that the team was lucky to get out of the game with a tie.    The Soccer Cards have had a day to regroup and will face St. John’s Red Storm today at 1:00p.m. at Cardinal Park.   It should be a spectacular day in the ‘Ville today, so get outside and get down to Cardinal Park to support women’s soccer. 

Finally, the VolleyCardsplay again today after a sweep of the DePaul Blue Demons on Friday night.  Check out our very own Jeff’s write up of that affair, which started as a dance party and ended with a clean sweep, on yesterday’s edition at the Couple. 

Today brings a new opportunity for the team to continue their winning ways while facing the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish at the YUM Center at 2:00 p.m.  While Notre Dame’s record does not look as good as the Cards, don’t be fooled.  The Irish have played a brutal schedule thus far and have lost to very tough competition so far this season.  I look for this to be a great game to be in attendance for.   If you enjoy volleyball more than the beautiful fall outdoors, make your way to the YUM Center for a good match up. 

Following the volleyball match the VolleyCards will hold a free coaching clinic for young players K-8.   Participants will learn some basic skills and compete in drills alongside Coach Anne Kordes and the team.  If interested, fill out the attached waiver and turn it in to volleyball representatives prior to the start of the clinic. 

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lou/sports/w-volley/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/vb-12-clinicwaiver.pdf

As always, it is a great day to be a Cardinal Fan.  Find your favorite sport and get out and support our student-athletes!

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With the first day of fall officially in the books, I cannot help but know that basketball is just around the corner!  The cool breeze, the smell of bonfires and the crinkling of leaves under foot are synonymous with basketball (and football) season for me, which cannot come quick enough for this basketball enthusiast. 

While I patiently wait for the start of the season the coaching staff is very, very busy with recruiting.  As we have all read here over the last few weeks, 2013 prospective student athletes have been making official visits to their short lists of schools. 

 Still to come is the visit of the highly touted and # 1 basketball player in the nation Mercedes Russell.  Russell will be joined that weekend by another powerful post player, and highly sought after, Emmonnie Henderson.  They will visit Oct. 26-28.  Both will also visit, together, Tennessee the weekend prior.    While I have not seen anything in print regarding Henderson’s timeline for making a decision, Russell has stated she will make her decision and college choice 2-3 days after her Louisville visit. 

While preparing for what will likely be the last official visitors before the season starts the coaching staff has fanned out across the country making in home visits to the 2013 recruits.  In between visits to recruits homes the staff has also started getting out to watch practices and kids in the class of 2014. 

This is a very busy time for the coaching staff and the program in general.  It won’t be long before we start hearing the decisions of these recruits.  Hang on Cardinal fans this is an exciting time for the direction of this program!    Safe travels to our coaches out on the road.  We thank you for your hard work and look forward to seeing the fruits of your labor as the current team hits the hardwood for practice and a clear picture begins to develop on the future talent and who we will be donning the Cardinal Red.  

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That’s a wrap for this Sunday edition at the Couple.  Look for Paul and Sonja to return on Monday with what is bound to include some very interesting stories as well as results of all your favorite Cardinal teams.

Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Exeter, Melhado to play for Team Canada U 20

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Soccer Cards will miss first six games for UofL while at U 20 World Cup.

-Team USA WBB defeats Australia 86-73 to reach finals. 

The University of Louisville women's soccer team will start the 2012 season without two of their top players as junior forward Christine Exeter and junior defender Rachel Melhado will play for Canada at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. 

Exeter ( Pickering H.S./Pickering Ont.) and Melhado (Turner Fenlon H.S./Brampton, Ont.) will leave with their teammates Wednesday for the cup battles...which are scheduled Aug. 19-Sept. 8 in five cities across Japan. 

16 teams will vye for the title which will consist of group play before the quarterfinals on Aug 30-31st, semi-finals Sept 4th and gold and bronze matches on Sept. 8th. If they finish in the top four, the duo would miss two exhibition games and five regular season matches...including the UK game on Sept. 7th at Cardinal Park.

Exeter led Louisville last season with 14 goals and was the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. She's also a unanimous pre-season pick for 2012 All-BIG EAST.

Louisville opens the season Friday night with an exhibition game against Ohio State. Other games they could potentially miss are: 

8/12    Wright State (exhibition)
8/17    at Butler
8/24    Purdue
8/31    SEMO @ Lexington, KY
9/02    UNC Greensboro @ Lexington, KY
9/07    Kentucky

'We are absolutely thrilled for Christine and Rachel as they pursue their dreams of winning a youth world championship. Although we will miss their presence in games and training, we understand the privilege that comes with playing for your country. We know they will  represent both UofL and Canada exceptionally well." -- Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes.

Imagine Louisville WBB without Shoni and Shawnta Dyer for the first six games. Or Anne Kordes without Lola Arslanbeckova and Gwen Rucker during the early season...if you're looking for comparative player losses. That's a tough road to travel, especially with a young team, as Ferguson-Dayes has.  


For the 2012 season, the Cards have
only three seniors and nine juniors are on the 30-player Louisville roster...six sophomores and twelve freshmen fill out the remaining spots. Louisville could look to Kim Sharo, Angelika Uremovich and newcomer Charlyn Corral to pick up the scoring void for the Cards that the absence of Exeter will create. Emily Cardell, limited to just four games last year because of injuries, could also be a key, early scoring factor for UofL. 

Melhado started all 24 games as a defender for Louisville last year. The Cards do return veterans Courtney Holtz and Chelsea Hunter as defenders and goalie Chloe Kiefer will keep the Cards strong at the net when opponents have the ball.

Louisville begins the eleven-game BIG EAST regular season schedule Sept. 14th at Notre Dame. 

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#8 gets eight minutes against the Aussies

A win today for Olympic USA women's basketball over a tough as advertised Australia squad....86-73 with defense getting the job done in the second half. USA with no answers for Liz Cambage in the first half, 19 points for the 6'8" Tulsa Shock center. USA down 47-43 at the half. 

Tina Charles stepping up, taking it "very personal" and fatigue a factor to holding Cambage scoreless in the second half. USA using a 10-3 late third quarter run to lead 65-59 after three quarters, after trailing 56-55 with 3:55 to go in the quarter. 

Disappointing use of Angel today...eight minutes, four points...sat the bench the entire fourth quarter...Geno preferring to go with Ashia Jones, Maya Moore, Mary Tyler Moore...anyone he could find instead of the leading scorer in the WNBA. Puzzling, for sure. Predictable, yeah. After all, it is Geno. Probably tough for Jeff Walz, who flew over to catch the semis and final. 

"Yeah...Angel's still sitting." 

Diana Taurasi, saddled with foul trouble late, led UConn (oops!) USA with 14, Charles with 14 also and Sue Bird added 13. UConn gets the gold, silver and bronze. 

UConn  USA faces the winner of Russia v. France for the gold on Saturday.

Whoever...the real title was won today, more specifically in the second half of today's game when the 'Dream Team' woke up from their slumber and shut down #2 in the world with defense. 



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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Women's Soccer looks to repeat last year's success

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Women's soccer geared for another successful season. 


- This, that and the other...

The historic season for University of Louisville women's soccer last year culminated with advancement to the 3rd round of the NCAA tournament with wins over Dayton and Memphis. A close 2-0 loss to Final Four participant Florida State ended the Cards championship season...a season that saw them go 14-7-3 and finish second in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament, losing to champion West Virginia at Morgantown in the Mountaineers' final BIG EAST appearance.


The good news for head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes is that she has her two leading scorers from last year returning in Christine Exeter and Angelika Uremovich and her starting goalie...Chloe Kiefer. 

The Cards were 8-1-2 in the BIG EAST and forward Exeter was selected to the NSCAA All-American team. She scored 14 goals for Louisville and was also named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year.  

She'll have both Uremovich and Kim Sharo back to help her produce points for the Cards and 12 freshmen join the team this season...plus transfer and international sensation Charlyn Corral, who played for Mexico's 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup team. 

The action begins with a pair of exhibition games at Cardinal Park starting next Friday. Louisville will face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Aug. 10th. and Wright State on Sunday, Aug 12th. The regular season kicks off on Friday, August 17th. when Louisville travels to play at Butler. 


The Cards will have ten home games at Cardinal Park, including a Sept. 7th. match against Kentucky. Louisville will be looking for revenge this season...losing to UK 2-0 last year in Lexington. 


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I don't do laundry (Sonja's request) so I can't duplicate Sandy's Laundry Day but here's a few UofL women's sports related tidbits. 


-- China Dow, Christian Academy's stellar point guard has verballed to MTSU (Middle Tenn. State U.). According to her coach, Don Rice...it came down to UK or the Blue Raiders. She's one that has improved greatly over the last year and we'll be watching her career in Murfreesboro. 


-- Melissa Starck Bean has accepted Anne Kordes' offer to be an assistant volleyball coach at UofL. If the name sounds familiar, she played her high school volleyball at Assumption, was an assistant at UofL for Leonid Yelin from 2005-09 and most recently assistant club director at KIVA (Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy). Welcome back, Melissa! 


-- Amanda Zahui, the Swedish basketballer who considered Louisville WBB before verballing to Minnesota, will be ineligible this season because of academic certification woes. Sounds like a juco stint to us. 


-- Angel McCoughtry and the USA Olympic Women's Basketball team face the Czech Republic today at 5:15 p.m. You can catch it on the NBC Sports Network. We'll have a recap in Saturday's CARDINAL COUPLE. 


-- Jeff Walz does a Q and A with Jody Demling over at Cardinal Authority. We like the changes that have occurred over at the Scout site since J.D. replaced Mike Hughes and you can access the site over on the left side of our site under Sites We Recommend. 


Have a great Friday and L1C4, baby! 


-Paul

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Kendall named BIG EAST Female Field Athlete of the Week, Women's Soccer signs ten.

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THURDSAY WITH DA COUPLE

-Amashi smashes BIG EAST throwing record

-Ferguson-Dayes happy with soccer signing class.

-Louisville bringing in Bernice Sandler for UConn game

-Hello, Groundhog....Goodbye, D.C.

( A little break from basketball today...plenty of that coming up over the next several days and it's only six shopping days until Geno and the Huskies come to town.)

Louisville thrower Amashi-Ali Kendall is another in the long linage of top flight throwers on the women's track team. She was named BIG EAST Female Field Athlete of the Week for her outstanding performance in the Indiana Relays.

Kendall placed second in the weight throw with a sling of 67-9.5. The throw ranks sixth nationally. Kendall is the only BIG EAST female student-athlete to rank in the top 50 in the event.

She has two wins in the weight throw this year, taking the Indiana Open and the Kentucky Relays. She'll toss is the VT Elite Meet this weekend.

Good job, Owensboro girl! And...look out down field. Amashi's in the circle.

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Karen Ferguson-Dayes and the UofL women's soccer team proudly announce the 2012 recruiting class and the 10 signees. It is a stellar class and should provide the Cards with many victories over the next four years.

"This is an exciting day for the University of Louisville women's soccer. We are coming off a tremendous season that saw us win the BIG EAST National Division title and make it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, and this incoming 2012 class has both the character and the playing ability to help our team become stronger in the years to come. WE are thrilled to add these 10 talented young women to the Louisville women's soccer family."  -Karen Ferguson-Dayes.

The newbies:

-Jenna Andersen. Defender. Sterling Heights, MI.
-Grace Ayodele. Forward. Champaign, IL
-Andrea Distler. Midfielder. Louisville, KY (Sacred Heart)
-Nicole Gerber. Midfielder. HIghland Hills, NY
-Harlee Leineek. Goalkeeper. Perrineville, NJ
-Aubrey Muench. Midfielder. Cold Springs, KY (Newport Central Catholic)
-Lauren Nash, Midfielder. Woodbury, MN
-Lexie Niedoba. Midfielder. Essex, MD.
-Hallie Pyle. Goalkeeper. Centerville, OH.
-Irene Young. Forward. Troy, MI.


Welcome to the "Ville" ladies!

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She's not a high scoring point guard or rebounding machine...but she's just as responsible for changing the game of women's basketball and many other college sports as any athlete to ever step on the court. The University of Louisville will welcome Bernice Sandler "The Godmother of Title IX" to the Tuesday night WBB women's basketball game against UConn. She'll be part of the honored presentations. Read all about her at the link below and no...she's not Adam Sandler's mom.

She gained her notriety back in 1970. UofL went into warp speed on Title IX when Tom Jurich arrived on campus. Back in the early days, the women's basketball team travelled to games in vans and station wagons, rented one room at a hotel for the entire team...so they could dress, shower and change before and after a game. Many places they played had no female locker rooms. The Louisville WBB team and opponents had to actually use the female restrooms at Freedom Hall at times to get ready for games. The field hockey team at my high school had to hold bake sales, wash cars and solicit local businesses just for the basics...like balls and sticks. If it hadn't been for a local chiropractor...they probably wouldn't have been able to afford and finance a team.

Come a long way, baby. Still a long way to go. But, don't hear no bell. Keep on pushin'....straight ahead.

http://www.voice-tribune.com/columns/the-dish/godmother-of-title-Ix-coming-to-louisville

Nice job by the Voice-Tribune's Kellie Denton on this. Click it and have a read. You just might learn a little something.
.

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Finally, HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY to all of our readers. Bring on spring!

And, we bid a sad farewell to Don Cornelius...the hip and bad announcer dude on SOUL TRAIN. You brought us the best and a lot of us learned how to "shake that booty" watching you on Saturday afternoons. (Something that still embarrasses Sonja when we go out dancing.)

In your words...Love, Peace and Soul. Don't know why you had to do it the way you did it. Thanks for the memories, though.
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Soccer #24 in final poll...BIG EAST WBB kicks into action...BIG EAST Welcomes five...

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CARDINAL COUPLE THURSDAY REPORT

-Women's Soccer one of three BIG EAST in final top 25

-Five games kick off BIG EAST WBB Conference Play

-Boise State, Houston, SMU, San Diego State and UCF join BIG EAST

Christine Exeter led the
women's soccer team
in scoring.

The University of Louisville women's soccer team was ranked 24th. in the final poll for NCAA Women's College Soccer. They were the only BIG EAST women's soccer team to advance to the Sweet Sixteen this season and finished runner-up in the BIG EAST Tournament to West Virginia. The Mountaineers were ranked 18th. and Marquette finished 15th. in the final rankings.

The #24 ranking is the highest finish ever for Louisville women's soccer.

Louisville defeated Dayton and Memphis by identical 2-0 scores in NCAA Tournament play before falling to #9 Florida State 2-0 in the Sweet Sixteen.

Leading scorer Christine Exeter returns for her junior season next year for head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, along with several other key components for the squad.

Hats off to the Women's Soccer Cards for their huge accomplishments this year and Coach Ferguson-Dayes' efforts!

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The BIG EAST Conference's women's basketball regular season play kicked off last night with five games. No real surprises here...the recaps below.

-- DePaul defended the home court with a 69-52 win over visiting St. John. Keisha Hampton led the way for the Blue Demons with 21 points...Lexington, KY. native Anna Martin added 13 and Jasmine Penny contributed 12. For St. John, Eugenia McPherson tallied 18, Nadirah McKenith tossed in 13 and Amber Thompson hit double figures with 10. St. John's Shennika Smith was held to just four points...

Sugar was sweet for the Hoyas
last night

-- Georgetown romped Pittsburgh 82-54. The visitors got 28 from guard Sugar Rodgers, Tia MaGee and Taylor Brown added 12 each for the Hoyas...who shot 47.5%. Pitt managed only 26.7% from the floor. They were led by Asia Logan's 15. Bria Kesel (11) and Leeza Burdgess (10) hit double figures for the Panthers as well.

-- Notre Dame had no trouble with Marquette...winning 95-42 in the Joyce Center. Four in double figures for the Irish...Kayla McBride 19, Skylar Diggins 17. Lexington's Natalie Novosel hit for 11, as did Brittany Mallory. The visiting Golden Eagles were paced by Sarina Simmons 14...Katherine Plouffe added 9.

Laura Sweeney cooked the Friars
with 25 points last night

-- Villanova bested home standing Providence 69-42. For the Wildcats, Laura Sweeny had a game high 25 and the Friars got 17 from Teya Wright. Villanova hit 9-23 three point attempts in the win.

--West Virginia travelled to Syracuse and escaped with a 76-72 win. The Mountaineers had four players reach double figures...led by Ayana Dunning and Asya Bussie with 19 each. The 'Cuse also had four double figure scorers...Carmen Tyson-Thomas was good for 17.

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It's official...five teams have been added to the BIG EAST. Hardly an eastern influence here, though with San Diego State and Boise State joining for football only and Houston, SMU and UCF coming aboard for all sports. Two of the schools, Houston and SMU have lost their head football coaches recently and San Diego State is over 3000 miles from BIG EAST corporate offices in Providence. No running over to the offices to drop off documents for the Aztecs...

Whether or not this will save the BIG EAST's automatic qualifier for BCS football remains to be seen. The Aztecs did go 8-4 this year and are bowl bound...against La.-Lafayette on Dec. 17th. Houston was unblemished until Southern Miss romped them in the C-USA Championship game. Boise State went 11-1 this year. One would hope they'll continue the impressive play over the next few years. One thing is for sure...none of the five are legitimate women's basketball powers...more cupcakes for Jeff's Walz's buffet...
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Ferguson-Dayes receives honor...Strong leaving?/Cards going...One final look at the UofL v.UK WBB game

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Karen Ferguson-Dayes selected Northeast Coach of the Year.

-Football Cards headed to Charlotte...Charlie headed to College Station?

-(We promise) A final look at the UofL vs. UK WBB game.

The University of Louisville's head women's soccer coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes has been named the NSCAA/Mondo Regional Coach of the Year for the NCAA Northeast Division. She was also the BIG EAST Coach of the Year..so the trophy case in the Ferguson-Dayes living room is getting crowded.

Ferguson-Dayes led the Cards to 14 wins this year and to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the Cards furthest foray into soccer's BIG DANCE. Louisville was also the champs of the BIG EAST's National Division this season and lost in the finals of the BIG EAST Tournament to West Virginia.  

Christine Exeter was BIG
EAST Player of the Year.

Dayes has a talented team returning next season, headed up by Christine Exeter...who will be a junior next year. Exeter was BIG EAST Player of the Year and scored 14 goals on the season. Last year, Exeter was the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.

The Cards will miss goalie Chloe Kiefer, who graduates next spring, but Dayes has recruited well and should be well-prepared to battle tough BIG EAST opponents and a traditionally tough and demanding non-conference schedule.

Ferguson-Dayes got her 100th. career win in the regular season final game against Cincinnati.

Speculation amongst some fans early in the season about the Cards centered around the girls' slow start to the season and what to do about it. The Cards were 1-4-2 early on against a strong non-conference slate. Sometimes, it takes a team a while to jell...and Ferguson-Dayes got this group running on all eight cylinders when BIG EAST conference play rolled around.

Congratulations to Karen and the UofL Women's Soccer team on their outstanding individual and team accomplishments this year!

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It seemed like the terms "Louisville football" and "coaching departures" were interchangeable back in the prior decade. Both John L. Smith and Bobby Petrino left the program for more (in their opinion) lucrative opportunities. Howard Schnellenberger flew the coop (which caused UofL to hire a "coop" - Ron Cooper) in the mid-nineties. He regrets leaving - even to this day. (Schnellenberger, not Cooper.)

Now, fans are full of innuendo that current football head coach Charlie Strong might be a obtainable target for the Texas A&M football program. This happening while the Cards prepare for a Dec. 27th. bowl game in Charlotte, N.C. against N.C. State.

Clearly, Strong would be a good choice for the Aggies. He has tons of SEC experience and recruits well in the SEC stronghold of Florida. The A&M program is headed to the SEC. He's taken the Cards to bowl games in his first two years as a head coach...a coaching job he waited over 20 years to receive. The Aggies need a head coach after dumping theirs.

"Who said I'm leaving? I got Teddy for
three more years and a tough-ass defense."

Will he go? We don't think so. He's not the job-jumping, eye-always-open job philanderer that Bobby Petrino is. He's not the foolish decision maker that John L. Smith was...thinking he could compete in BIG TEN football with Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan. Charlie and his family like Louisville. Charlie has stated many times that he wants to put his mark on Cardinal Football. So, the question is....do you want to be a coach of a team that is young, getting better and plays before 55,000 fans or the coach of a team, faced with rebuilding...that may get 70,000 in the seats if the team is winning...but is headed to the toughest conference in college football? WE think he'll see the light and stay.

We hope we're right.

It's probably just one of many future attempts by other college football programs to pilfer Strong from the Cardinal ranks. Just say, no...Mr. Strong..and call "the Pipe" or "Johnelle" if you need any career changing advice. Stay strong, Charlie. Stay a Cardinal.

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The Louisville women's basketball team returns to action Saturday in the KFC YUM! Center to face 0-7 Gardner Webb. For some Cardinal fans, that can't happen soon enough. A chance to wash away the bitter taste of a 20 point drubbing by non-conference opponent Kentucky. A chance to see a probable lopsided, blowout win by the Cards.

We understand the frustrations some fans are feeling about the loss to UK. We were there...and it got a little frustrating and depressing at times during the game. We don't think it's the end of the world and demise of the Cardinal basketball program, though. Sometimes, teams have off performances. UK had six days to prepare for the game - Louisville three. UK threw everything they had into keeping the Louisville guards...especially Shoni...from being able to create and maneuver. Not everybody, in fact...hardly anybody...left on the Lady Cards schedule can play that kind of pressure defense. We'll watch with interest on how UK does against strong ACC affiliated Duke and BIG EAST's Notre Dame.

UK better than the Lady Vols this year? Hard
to convince us otherwise.

The Lady Cards will bounce back. Too much pride and things on the line not to.

UK may just be the best team in the SEC this season. Hard to convince us otherwise right now, after watching Tennessee play a couple of times and not seeing any other powerhouses in the remaining SEC schools. No disgrace in losing to a better opponent, and UK clearly was on Sunday. Learn from it, Lady Cards, and improve because of it. Develop a killer mentality.

And, rebound. Literally... 
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Women Soccer vs. Marquette...Field Hockey at UConn Saturday...Volleyball at DePaul...St. X vs Trinity at PJCS

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WELCOME TO FRIDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE

-Soccer Cards do battle with #10 Marquette tonite

-Volleyball heads to Chicago for DePaul match

-Field Hockey with a tough test Saturday @ UConn

-The greatest rivalry in high school football...Rocks vs. Tigers

Karen Ferguson-Dayes and the Louisville women's soccer team faces one of their toughest tests of the season with a 7 p.m. match tonight against Marquette at Cardinal Park. The Golden Eagles are 10-2 on the season and come to Louisville buoyed by wins last weekend over DePaul and Notre Dame.

The Cards (4-4-3) come into the contest after a win and tie on the road last week. Louisville downed Providence 1-0 and fought to a tie against UConn. The Cards have seemingly shaken off their slow start to the season and have either won or gained a tie in their last five outings.

Louisville will count on sophomore Christine Exeter to  continue her hot streak on offense. The Pickering, Ontario native has scored in each of the Cards last three games. A big performance between the pipes by senior goalkeeper Chloe Kiefer would benefit Louisville greatly tonight, too.

After tonight's match, USF visits for a Sunday, 1 p.m. showdown.

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Anne Kordes will have the Volleyball Cards ready for action tonight when they battle DePaul in a BIG EAST regular season match. Louisville (10-4) will look to Lola again for a productive night and she's been far from disappointing lately.

Kordes has done a very good job with a veteran Cardinal roster that in very thin on available bodies. With Gwen Rucker on the sideline, Anne only has nine players available for matches.

Emily Juhl and Taylor Brauneis have also been at the top of their games lately and Louisville should handle the Blue Demons (4-11, 1-1) pretty easily.


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Louisville Field Hockey faces a very tough test Saturday when they travel to Storrs, CT. for a face off against the #4 ranked Huskies. Led by Chloe Hunnable and Maria Elena Bolles, UConn has an 8-1 record this year and defeated Massachusetts (Justine Sowry's previous school) 4-1 on Wednesday. Boston College is the only team to hang a "L" on UConn this season.

Louisville will hope senior Hayley Turner can find the back of the net against the talented Husky defense. She faces one of the best in the nation at goal. Sarah Mansfield allows only 0.89 scores per contest. Erin Conrad had allowed only 10 scores this season for the #19 Cards.

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( The obligatory annual column about high school football next...)

Papa John's Cardinal Stadium will be packed and lit up this evening but it won't be Charlie Strong's Cardinals on the Sportsgrass. Instead, the 72nd. matchup between St. Xavier and Trinity will kickoff at 8 p.m. St. X leads the series 36-33-2 but will have their hands full with a Trinity team ranked #3 in the nation. This will be Trinity's (5-0) first game this year against a Kentucky opponent but they haven't been dormant...defeating some of the best from Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana.

St. X (3-3) comes into tonight's game off a 31-30 overtime win over Central. Coach Mike Glazer's Tigers lost both games to the Rocks last year...but anything can happen in this huge rivalry. Last year's attendance of 35,000 should easily be topped in what looks like a perfect night for football.

One to keep an eye on tonight will be Trinity receiver James Quick. The junior is drawing a lot of interest from major colleges already and Louisville and Kentucky are both interested in his services. He's done well in five games this year...over 600 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches.

PAUL'S PICK   Rocks roll....34-10 over St.X.
SONJA SAYS   Time for an upset...St X. 14 - Trinity 7

Over 35,000 for high school football. Not many rivalries can top that.  

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Field Hockey defeats MSU 2-1....Soccer loses in OT to Illinois 2-1

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Jurich goal gives Justine Sowry first win

-Cards take Illini to overtime before losing

-Central Cardinal Club 2011 Holiday Boutique

Louisville Field Hockey used a second half putback goal by Lacey Jurich to down #13 Michigan State last night in Trager Stadium 2-1. The Cards took the lead against the Spartans when goalkeeper Molly Cassidy deflected a Card attempt on goal midway thru the second half and Jurich knocked the loose ball past her for a 2-1 lead.

Louisville scored first in the tightly fought contest off a penalty corner. Freshman Dominique Pasqualichio slapped in an assist from Hayley Turner and Elizabeth Vance for the opening goal. That would be the extent of the scoring in the first half for either team. After the intermission, the Spartans tied the contest about seven minutes into action when Christy Coil snuck one by Cardinal goalie Erin Conrad.

Louisville (1-1) takes to the road for two in Carolina next...Saturday, Sept. 3rd. at Davidson and Sunday, Sept 4th. vs. #11 Wake Forest.

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Tough overtime loss Sunday afternoon in Cardinal Park for UofL women's soccer. Louisville and Illinois battled through regulation to a 1-1 tie before the fighting Illini found the back of the net five minutes into overtime.

The Cards struck first in regulation...Jordan Pawlik capitalizing on assists from Christine Exeter and Devyn Ciotti to score 23 minutes into the contest. They held that lead to halftime and most of the second half before Megan Pawloski slipped a kick past UofL goalie Chloe Kiefer in the 79th. minute of play. Illinois' Shayla Mutz fired the game winner past Kiefer minutes later in overtime.

Louisville women's soccer head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes was optimistic despite the defeat:

"In all honesty, I think we should have won the game because we had our chances to win in in 90 minutes but we didn't capitalize on two breakaways. Illinois is absolutely a great team. We should have scored a second goal in the first half and we had two more legit chances in the second half. Anytime you let a really good team hang around, they do exactly what Illinois did today. As upset as I am because it's a loss, I'm incredibly optimistic because of our effort."

Louisville will host the Courtyard by Marriott Classic Labor Day weekend at Cardinal Park. The Cards take on Baylor at 5 p.m. Friday and then Central Michigan Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
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The CENTRAL CARDINAL CLUB will hold their 2011 Holiday Boutique and Style Show Luncheon on Tuesday, November 15th. from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m. at the PNC Club in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Susan Sweeney will be the emcee. Fashions by Sunny Daize and Evolve Consignment and the models will be family and friends of the University of Louisville. Class Act Federal Credit Union signs on as a sponsor and here's the schedule of events:

-Lunch Buffet starting at 11:30 a.m. ($15 per person)
-Fashion show begins at 12:15 p.m.
-Dinner Buffet starting at 6 p.m. ($15 per person)
-Cash bar from 4:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m.

Some pretty impressive vendors are lined up for the gala event and there will be special guest appearances throughout the day. 

All proceeds from the Central Cardinal Club Event benefits the Cardinal Athletic Fund and UofL Student Athletics. You can call Linda Patton @ (502) 635-6088 or Debbie Zipperle @ (812) 280-0275 debzip@yahoo.com with questions.

Sounds like a great day...with a Silent Auction and tons of prizes and giveaways available! We'll see you there. We've also posted the information on the "left side of the site" so you won't forget.
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Volleyball downs Tenn. Tech...Soccer ties Toledo..Field Hockey falls to Cal.

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SATURDAY WITH THE COUPLE

-Volleyball Cards sweep Tenn. Tech in first game of the year

-Cards tie Toledo in Soccer

-Cal uses second half to defeat Field Hockey Cards

The old phrase "win, lose or draw" came into play yesterday for three UofL women's sports
teams...Volleyball winning their first match of the season, Soccer earning a tie against Toledo and Field Hockey falling at home to California. Let's look at the events...

The BIG EAST selected Lola Arslanbeckova as the pre-season BIG EAST Player of the Year and she did nothing to dispel that selection last night in Atlanta, leading the Volleyball Cards to a 25-9, 25-20 and 25-7 whitewash of the Golden Eagles. Arslanbeckova got Anne Kordes her first official career win as the UofL head volleyball coach by producing 17 kills.

"We were passing, serving and hitting really well. I also think that Taylor Brauneis did a nice job of spreading the offense around." Kordes commented after the match.

Emily Juhl added 10 kills for Louisville and Gwen Rucker finished with nine. The Cards rolled out to an early 17-5 lead in the first game and won easily. Tennessee Tech hung around for most of the second game until a late 7-2 Louisville run allowed the Cards to take the contest. They pounced on the Golden Eagles in the final game quickly...going up 15-4 and coasting in for the win. Nebraska transfer Kaitlynn James served six straight points in the final game...her first game action in two years.

The Cards play twice on Saturday...Kansas State in the morning and Georgia Tech in the evening.

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Louisville Soccer drew first blood against Toledo last night but couldn't score again in a 1-1 tie against the Rockets. Sophomore Angelika Uremovich found the back of the net early in the match at the eight minute mark for her second goal of the season. The Rockers countered a few minutes later though when Kristen Lynn slid one by UofL goalkeeper Chloe Kiefer. Both team had chances to score in the second half but neither could produce a goal.

"I thought we started out very flat and reactive and because of that it took a long time to find our rhythm." Louisville head women's soccer coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes commented. "Toledo worked extremely hard and they played very well tonight. We will regroup for Illinois on Sunday and take from this some game lessons we need in order to make us a better team."

Toledo (0-2-1) outshot Louisville (1-0-1) 15-12 in the match. Kiefer had four saves for Louisville...who will host Illinois Sunday. The first 150 students with ID will get a Louisville Louigans T-Shirt and the first 1000 fans get a free Louisville soccer schedule key chain.

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CARDINAL COUPLE favorite Caitlin Collins got her first career goal last night but it wasn't

enough to carry the Field Hockey Cards past California...losing 3-1 to the Bears. Down 1-0, the Cards got on the board at the 12:30 mark when Collins found the net on a penalty corner with an assist from Elizabeth Vance. The first half ended with a 1-1 tie...Louisville out shooting California 14-2 and holding a 9-0 advantage in penalty corners.

Cal pushed ahead 2-1 four minutes into the second half when Erin Magill scored on a penalty corner and the Bears tacked on an insurance goal with two minutes remaining. Louisville was awarded two penalty corner attempts as time expired but could not connect on either. The Cards dominated the stats...with a 18-8 shot advantage and 15-4 in corners. Goalie Erin Conrad had a save in the defeat.

"In the beginning of the game I thought we started well and put them under a lot of pressure. To get that many corners and have that many shots on goal..we wanted a goal or two more than we got. I give a lot of credit to California. They're a good team through the midfield and we had a lot of turnovers, so we have to fix that." Louisville head field hockey coach Justine Sowry remarked.

Michigan State faces California Saturday in Trager Stadium and the Cards will go up against Spartans on Sunday.