TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( Sandy Walker brings us the weekly Walker walk through Cardinal Women's Athletics. Whether it's wickets wildly waving thru the wicked winter wind or balls bouncing briskly by Bearno's By The Bridge...Sandy's knows about it and isn't afraid to share it with us, you and the staff chimps. It's Laundry Day at CARDINAL COUPLE and Sandy gets to keep all she finds in the pockets.) 



This week Sandy has spent time checking the laundry provisions for all of the women's teams.   We are happy to report that every squad appears to be well supplied with the materials they need.

Coco's young niece Stinky reacting to the Cardinal Couple's Corporate office new installation.  The

national impending budget crisis has resulted in orders for the staff to cut costs.  ( Editor's note: We have also 

cut out the Thursday afternoon buffet and jousting events which were costing us a forutne and blocking traffic on Floyd Street for rush hour. Things came to a head when Co-Co accidently rode her steed over Tom Jurich's car during competiton.)

This great invention allows us to re-use the laundry water to flush the toilet.  She just realized that we must wait until there is laundry being rinsed before she can flush. 

SOFTBALL

Junior Pitcher Caralisa Connell     

4-0 for the week by pitching two

one-hit shutouts  brought her the title of BIG EAST pitcher

of the week.   To date they have a team 12-2 record for the season.

The 18^th ranked team will next play this weekend in Orlando, FL at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.  Games begin in the 2013 Citrus Classic on Friday and conclude on Sunday where they will meet 9^th ranked Texas, Temple, Longwood, Georgia Tech and 10^th ranked LSU.

After that battle the team should be happy to return home the next weekend where they begin a 10 game home stand which extends through March 20^th before again hitting the road so after marking your calendars from http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/lou-w-softbl-sched.html get out your lawn chairs and blankets and plan to spend some time at Ulmer Stadium.

 

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LACROSSE

Lacrosse wins again!

Saturday the team again charged to victory, this time over Old Dominion 21-3.  Six players scored multiple goals all contributed to the teams 3-0 win-loss start. 
 

For her efforts junior goalkeeper Ashley Herbst  

was named this week to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.  In 56 minutes of play against Old Dominion she made eight saves and collected two ground balls. Stats over the 3 games played to date find her ninth-best nationally in goals-against average, 11^th-best in save percentage clips while also ranked 26th in the nation for saves.

Coach Young is as happy as a pig with boots!

Next the team is packing their bags for Colorado as they play again this Saturday against Denver.

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE NEWS

Lacrosse magazine author Robbie Levin has named Sacred Heart Academy as the 10^th ranked high school team from the South region.  In addition the magazine has listed among the girl’s games to watch the March 1 Kentucky Country Day verses the No. 10 ranked Sacred Heart Academy.  Looks like KY has some up and coming Lacrosse players available where Head Coach Kellie Young

Kellie Young

can continue this year’s change in pattern which is to recruit then train experienced Lacrosse players instead of good athletes who she then teaches the beginning steps of how to play Lacrosse.   It looks like even better days are ahead for this team.

LAX TERMINOLOGY

Foul Play!   

A violation of the rules results in a major or minor foul, awarding a free position to the fouled player. It is a major foul when a player charges, pushes, trips, blocks, or makes physical contact with an opponent; "slashes" an opposing ballcarrier;

commits a "shooting space violation;" or invades the body space of an opposing player, such as touching her stick to that player's body. A minor foul is called if a player uses her stick or foot to shield a ground ball; if a player kicks the ball or touches it with her hands (except for the goalie inside her crease). Also, no part of a player's body or stick may enter the crease while the goalie is in her position there.

(Taken from Lacrosse 101 at

 http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/081506aab.html)

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GRANNY’S GOT GAME MOVIE UPDATE

The Beaufort International Film Festival was the location where out of 28 submitted films, Granny’s Got Game, won the Audience Choice award after being voted their favorite.    The event was extra special as 5 of the Fabulous 70s basketball players (Judy, Mary, Sarah, Shirley, and Wanda) were able to attend. 

Granny's Got Game is a documentary film about a senior women's basketball team in North Carolina. These seven fiercely competitive women in their seventies battle physical limitations and skepticism to keep doing what they love. The film follows them for a year as they compete for another National Senior Games championship.” The movie pre-view can be seen at http://www.grannysgotgame.com/.

You can watch an interview of the film maker, Angela Gorsica Alford, and the ladies who attended on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW0pfu2fCIA&feature=youtu.be. It is hoped that eventually a showing will come to our area.

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KFC YUM! CENTER REPLAYS

I take absolutely no credit for the change  but since I complained a couple of weeks ago about the lack of replays during the women’s basketball games at the KFC YUM! CENTER I absolutely have noticed more replays being shown.   Good Move !

(Editor's note...Just to clarify, that WASN'T Sandy standing behind Louisville public address announcer Sean Moth screaming "Show IT, Show it again, Baldy!" after a good Cardinal play in the South Florida game. Unfortunately, good plays were a rarity in the USF game...unless you focused in on Andrea Smith's three-point shooting or Inga Orekhova's drives to the hoop.)

Anything that so easily increases the fan’s entertainment and enjoyment of the time spent at the games is a good deal.   Particularly for an idea that does not appear to increase the arena costs.  With more of the women’s home games now on television where the at home fan is shown multiple replays and also has the ability the view their own choice of replays we need the bucket in the KFC YUM! CENTER seat fan to experience as much of this as possible.

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SOCCER


Women’s soccer hosted their awards banquet on Feb 8 and was held at the PNC Club inside Papa Johns Stadium.    Awards went to Chloe Kiefer for Most Valuable Player and as the MVP Defensive player, Charlyn Corral was named the Offensive MVP, Megan Berberick was chosen for the 12^th Man Award, Julie Casselman earned the Cardinal Award and Angelika Uremovickh was selected for the Coach's Award.



Nicole Gerber

For an inside the look at the Louisville women’s soccer program, GoCards.com will provide weekly updates in a "Behind the Scenes" blog. Throughout the spring semester they will provide weekly blog updates. For the month of February, Nicole Gerber takes on this task.  Her article and others throughout the season can be read at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/022213aac.html.



Mark your calendars for April 7 as Old Miss is coming to town for the Soccer Cards first home game this season at Cardinal Park – It appears that this season may be the last for play inside the track as Athletic Director Tom Jurich has announced a target date of spring 2014 for the opening of a new 17.5 million dollar state of the art facility dedicated specifically for soccer.  Teams currently have been playing at the Cardinal Park Soccer and Track Stadium.
 

It was opened in the spring of 2000 and seats 2200 fans which soon will not be close to enough seating for their fans. The construction which was hoped to be completed for the schools entry into the ACC now has the go ahead to begin thanks to the recently announced 5 million dollar donation by Dr. Mark Lynn and his wife, Cindy.  Their generosity brings U of L to within 3 million of their total goal.  The University of Louisville continues to grow their facilities with the intent to be the best for ALL athletes.

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BASKETBALL

Calling all Basketball fans – Wednesday is absolutely your last time this season to see the basketball women at home during the regular season.   This week’s game against Seton Hall which begins at 7:00 is also Seniors Night.  

 

  Come out to honor and show your appreciation for the women’s 3 basketball seniors, Shelby, Asia and Monique.

(Editor's note...Jeff Walz, pictured here, has felt the stress and strain of a season filled with injuries and ever-so-tough BIG EAST competiton. Coach remains optimistic, though, that this team...in whatever shape and form it travels to Hartford in...will give a good account of itsself in the BIG EAST Tournament. Coach Walz will have his first radio show tonight at 5:30 p.m. on 790 Cards Radio WKRD. Please don't call up and order a large sausage with green peppers or ask if Little Richie is going to play Weds. night and how many points is he going to score...)

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2013 NCAA Tournament Selection Show

Once again the women’s basketball fans are invited to join the team for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show where the fate of our team in the first round of big dance will be disclosed.  Doors to the KFC YUM! Center will open at 6:00 on Monday March 18 with the ESPN selection show beginning at 7:00.  Those of you who arrive late will be shuttled to the outdoor viewing station.

Admission is free where you will not only to learn what teams will be coming to Louisville for the 1^st and 2^nd rounds of play but also where you and your kids can experience inflatable’s and a free photo booth.
 

The Selection Show will be featured on the scoreboard at the arena and seating will be limited to sections 115, 116, and 117.  Fans can also purchase tickets for the March 24 and 26^th games when they can experience Louisville hosting the first ever NCAA first and second round games ever to be held at the KFC YUM! Center.
 

For more information please contact Katie Kiper at 852.0721 or email her at Katie@gocards.com.

Sandy

Merry Christmas Cardinal Couple readers!

XMAS EDITION : CARDINAL COUPLE



MERRY CHRISTMAS READERS!

On the bus for another away game!

It's been an incredible year here at Cardinal Couple and we want to thank all of you for your readership. e-mails, comments and support. It's hard to believe that CARDINAL COUPLE is almost four years old. A site we didn't think would last very long has turned into a site that now gets over 2700 hits a day. A site that now has weekly writers and carried by several news conglomerates and has posted close to 1200 articles. Yes, we are amazed, humbled and very thankful. Never saw it coming.

2012 has been an amazing year for UofL women's sports. Beginning in January, we watched at the UofL women's basketball team held their own against tough BIG EAST competition, made it into the NCAA Tournament and nearly advanced to the Sweet Sixteen...losing a tough battle to Maryland on their home court in College Park, MD.

Arthur Albiero's swimming and diving team took another BIG EAST title and spring brought us the promise of softball, track and field and lacrosse. Who can forget the 55-win season by Sandy Pearsall's club and hosting the NCAA Regionals? Track and field notched another BIG EAST title.

Voleyball's future looks bright!

After the students returned to fall classes, the field hockey and soccer teams had BIG EAST success and volleyball came out and blistered the BIG EAST with the regular season and tournament titles. The NCAA Championships took place at the KFC YUM! Center and Louisville narrowly missed being a Final Four participant.

Cardinal women's athletes battled hard all year in 13 sports and we salute each and every participant for their service to UofL.

Basketball is 1/3 of the way through as we write this and the Cards are rolling on all eight cylinders with a #14 ranking and sparkling 11-2 record.

Columnists Jenny O'Bryan and Jeff McAdams

We're thankful for all the great opportunities we've had to provide Cardinal coverage. We're also grateful for having the best writing staff around over the last three years in Jenny, Sandy, Jeff, Quentin, Mark, David and Donny.

May you have the best of the holiday season and thank you for making this site a joy and pleasure to present and produce each day! We look forward to 2013 and hope you make that journey with us...

Paul & Sonja
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Sandy is Searching For The Spray Starch

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(Sandy Walker takes us on her weekly sprint through UofL women's sports and more. If you've missed anything over the last week or so, chances are great that you get can an update or a reminder/recap here. And.....they're off! )

Sandy is Busy Pressing her Sunday Clothes 

Major Guests are Coming to Visit

BREAKING MEDICAL UPDATE!!!

Tia Gibbs has reported that she has been medically cleared to play.  Give a shout out to her at @TGibbs25 that you have heard the great news!  One by one we soon again have a healthy squad who are ready to conquer all who come. 

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SOCCER STAR NAMED HOMECOMING QUEEN

Angelika Uremovich of the Louisville women’s soccer team is the new 2012 University of Louisville Homecoming Queen.  She has been a starter for all 3 years of her career and has 18 career goals.   This marks the 3^rd consecutive year that a UL athlete has been crowned as Homecoming King or Queen.  UL Flying Cardinal video of the ceremony can be found at http://ptch.com/ptch/508321778d4f9830de9f227b.

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WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday night found the defending champion Minnesota Lynx playing game 3 of the WNBA championship against the Indiana Fever at Indianapolis.   Minnesota found a unique way to get the ball into the hands of Seimone Augustus.  Indiana’s focus on Augustus came to no purpose when the Lynx players decided to employ the strategy of simply handing off the ball rather than continuing to fail while trying to pass the ball to her.  This year and championship has been extremely physical and fast paced. 

This appears to be a glimpse into the type of play to be expected of future WNBA draftees which should well suit U of L players after experiencing the Jeff Walz fast paced and exciting system of play.  Congratulations to the Indiana Fever on their first  WNBA championship and to the MVP Tamika Catchings!!!

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2012-2013 BASKETBALL RULES UPDATE

The 2012 Spring was a non-rules change year for women’s NCAA basketball.  Instead of new rules, the focus (outside of allowable safety issue changes) is on game rules management.  Rick Nixon of NCAA.com has written an article http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2012-10-12/2012-13-women-s-basketball-officials-closely-monitor-pace-poutlining indicating that officials are to better manage the pace of play and to closely monitor but not necessarily tighten specific items.  They include the following areas: 

·         Incidental Elbow Contact

·         Traveling

·         Freedom of Movement

·         Pace of Play

·         Restricted Area Rule

·         Legal Guarding

·         Contact On/By the Ball Handler

·         Free-Throw Violations

·         Sportsmanship

·         Coaching box

·         Fighting

·         Basketball court-surface – which is an actual rule change due to a safety issue

I would suggest a complete read of this article in order to better enjoy the upcoming season.

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BASKETBALL RECRUITS – SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE

This weekend Coach Walz was notified by Janelle Cannon of her verbal commitment to attend U of L next year.  The 5’ 9” Wheeling, Illinois point guard is one of the top junior college players in the country.   Last year she averaged 18.6 points, 6.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game at SW Illinois.  Hopefully she is the first of many more to come. 

This coming weekend is perhaps the most important recruiting weekend for UL women’s basketball and is an absolute huge event.  We will have visits from four of the nation’s most highly recruited 2013 players.  It can be presumed that among other events they will be attending Friday night's ESPN broadcast of our 15^th nationally ranked football team match against Cincinnati and Saturday’s 2:00 pm Red/White men’s scrimmage.  The YUM Center! Event will feature the women’s team participating in pre-scrimmage activities. 

We have room for and want them all to join junior college point guard Janelle Cannon as a 2013 commitment.  Between club and recruiting travel these ladies have been major road warriors.   

                                                                     

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SOCCER

Congratulations to the soccer team as they defeated Cinncinnati 2-1 on Friday’s Senior Night The double overtime win was lead by goals from Charlyn Corral and Casey Whitfield while goalie Chloe Kiefer was credited with 7 saves. Louisville had an 37-10 advantage in shots on goal and a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.  The 37 shots broke a 13 year record. Seniors honored were Chloe Kiefer, Courtney Holz and Emily Cardell.

The win positioned UofL as the No. 3 seed from their division and gained them a first round bye in the 2012 BIG EAST Conference Championship. The (10-4-3, 5-3-3 BIG EAST)  Cardinals will open the tournament against American Division No. 2 seed USF in a quarterfinal match on Sunday, Oct. 28 in Tampa, Fla.

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“MOVING ON UP TO THE BIG TIME”

Volleyball:        Lola Arslanbekova Named BIG EAST Player of the Week

Soccer:              Charlyn Corral Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week

Field Hockey:   Alyssa Voelmle Named BIG EAST Field Hockey Player of Week

Tennis:              Julia Fellerhoff and Rebecca Shine Have Best-Ever Finishes at ITA  Ohio

Swimming:       Women's Swimming Finishes Fifth at SMU Classic

Basketball:       Pre-Season Ranking of Sixth in the Nation

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FIELD HOCKEY

Field Hockey Upsets No. 21 Ohio State 4-3 in Overtime.  An overtime goal by Senior Amber Thomas gave the University of Louisville a 4-3 win Monday at Trager Stadium. The Cards improve to 11-7 on the season while Ohio State drops to 9-8.

To make the BIG EAST Tournament, the Cards must defeat Providence in the final game of the year...Saturday at Providence. The tournament will be held at Trager Stadium this year. 

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VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball knocks off the last unbeaten team in the league, Marquette 3-1.  Emily Juhl contributed 13 kills to lead the volleycards to a 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-19 win over previously unbeaten conference leader Marquette. The Volleycards now have 25 seasons with 20 or more victories, including 12 of the last 13 seasons.

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BASKETBALL TIP OFF LUNCHEON

With today’s luncheon and this weekend’s women’s pre-red/white men’s scrimmage exhibition, the basketball season is finally and officially upon us.  We have reason to believe that a telephone call this morning to the U of L special events office ( 502-852-0706) could possibly still obtain for you a ticket to today’s women’s basketball tip-off luncheon.   Jeff Walz will be the featured speaker and the doors open at 11:15.  For those of you who make it to the event, take the time to stop by the Media Table for a chat with Paul of Cardinal Couple. You can move on to seeing Jenny at table 54 and between lunch and dessert, you can catch me at table 43.  For those of you who can’t make it to the event, Jenny will be reporting on the event in tomorrow’s issue.

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LACROSSE

The Lacrosse team spent a busy weekend which began by hosting their annual alumnae game on Saturday.  At their annual banquet on Friday the Cardinals distributed last season’s awards for the most valuable player, the most improved player, the unsung hero, rookie of the year, and coach's award.  Sunday’s events included a golf scramble which was held in conjunction with the field hockey team.

Hats off to the lacrosse team for their strong showing at last Tuesday's Central Cardinal Club outing, also.


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                                                                         NEXT?

The final matchup in the Sweet Sixteen of Choose Your Favorite Cardinal Womens' Athlete features basketball's Monique Reid against golf's Katie Petrino.

Reid enters her final year of basketball at UofL after a year off because of a knee injury. The Fern Creek, KY native will tell you "I'm a scorer, that's what I do." and a look at her career at UofL makes that evident.

Her uncanny ability to score under the basket makes her a threat anytime she steps on the court and also creates opportunities for other Cardinals because of the defensive priorities assigned to stop her. WE say..."Go, Mo, Go!"

Petrino enters her second season on the links for the Cards with the 3rd lowest average score so far this season. We think her tee-to-fairway game is the best out of the Cardinal women's golfers and she also dabbled in a little softball pitching for the Cards in the 2010-11 season.

From Fayetteville, Arkansas now...Katie also spent time in Louisville when her father Bobby was the head coach of the UofL Football team.

You can vote for your favorite on the infamous "left side of the site."

Congratulations to soccer's Chloe Kiefer, who defeated field hockey's Erin Conrad and advances to the round of eight!

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