Louisville Off to Best Start in School History
from press release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Head coach Kellie Young's
team continued to roll on Saturday afternoon, mixing a powerful
scoring attack and a stifling defense against the Jaspers at Gaelic
Park in Riverdale, N.Y.
Behind a combined 20 scores from eight different players - 11 of
which were unanswered - and a defense that allowed no goals in the
second half, the University of Louisville women's lacrosse team
powered past Manhattan, 20-2, to improve to 6-0 this season, its
best mark in program history.
While the Cardinal offense continues to be one of the focal points,
the defense set a record by allowing just two goals in 60 minutes
of play. Manhattan (2-4) had 11 turnovers and continued to be
pestered by the Louisville backline, which held the Jaspers to just
14 shots, only five in the second half.
Liz Lovejoy, who scored just eight goals through six games last
season, has remained on a tear. The senior tacked on five goals
today to give her 21 for the season. She also registered an assist
and a draw control in the win. Classmate Emily Dashiell also had
another strong performance, netting four goals on six shots,
winning five draw controls, six ground balls and forcing a
team-best two caused turnovers. Dashiell entered the game as the
nation's leader in draw controls at 7.25 per game and now has a
total of 41 for the season.
Sammy Allen quickly put the Cardinals in the lead, 1-0, 31 seconds
into the game on a pass from Katie Oliverio. Less than a minute
later, Meghan Ryan netted her first goal of the season, and Lianne
Bobal registered her 10th goal of the year to give Louisville a 3-0
lead.
The Jaspers' leading scorer, Phelicia VanOverbeke scored her lone
goal of the contest to temporarily stop the run.
The Cardinals went on a 6-0 spurt after that, receiving a pair of
goals from Lovejoy and scores from four other players, to go ahead
9-1.
Chrissy Gutenberger scored Manhattan's second and final goal of the
game, with 9:31 remaining in the first period.
From that point on, Louisville's offensive momentum ceased to stop.
Lovejoy tacked on her third goal of the game, with Colleen O'Malley
receiving her first collegiate assist, and Jamie Redding tacked on
one more, putting Louisville ahead, 11-2, heading into
halftime.
In the second period, Louisville went on cruise control,
registering 11 goals on 13 shots. In the half, the Cardinals
collected eight draw controls, compared to Manhattan's two, 11
ground balls and had only four turnovers.
Katie Oliverio had five assists in the second, giving her a
school-record eight for the game. She previously set the school
mark of six during Louisville's last win against Sacred Heart on
March 17.
Hillary Bushway capped the scoring, notching her first career goal,
with 3:39 left in regulation.
Ashley Herbst earned the win in goal, playing 51 minutes, making
three saves and allowing two goals. Katie Zoeller saw action for
the first time this season, playing nine minutes in the second and
making two stops.
For the game, Louisville outshot Manhattan, 33-14, won the draw
control battle, 19-5, and collected 25 ground balls in comparison
to the Jaspers' 14. The Cardinals also successfully made 10 of 12
clears.
Bergan Foley and Lianne Bobal recorded three scores apiece, while
Sammy Allen had a strong all-around game, registering two goals,
five draw controls and six ground balls.
The Cardinals return to Louisville to start a four-game home stand,
beginning with Stanford on Thursday, March 24. First draw at the U
of L Lacrosse Stadium is set for 5 p.m.
Notes:
- The Cardinals held the Jaspers to a program-best two goals.
Louisville had previously allowed three goals on three occasions,
most recently against Lafayette on March 18, 2009.
- The Cardinals shut the Jaspers out in the second half, marking
the second time an opponent has been held scoreless in the second
period this season. Louisville held Binghamton scoreless in the
second half in its season opening 18-4 win.
- Louisville dished out a school-record 12 assists against
Manhattan, breaking the old mark of 11, which was set against
Bryant on Feb. 22, 2008. Individually, Katie Oliverio recorded
eight of the assists, breaking her school record of six, set
against Sacred Heart on Thursday.
- Louisville's 33 points set a school record, besting the 32 points
recorded against Bryant in 2008.
- Freshman Hillary Bushway notched her first career goal in the
second half, while Meghan Ryan scored for the first time this
season. With Bushway and Ryan scoring, 12 different Cardinals have
found the back of the net in 2011.
