The ninth-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team faced a tough challenge against top-ranked Northwestern but ultimately fell 2-0 in a highly competitive top-10 matchup Friday evening at Trager Stadium.
Game Recap:
Louisville (2-3) will return to the field on Sunday to host Cornell at 4 p.m., while Northwestern (5-0) is set to take on the Big Red (0-2) in a neutral-site match on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Trager Stadium.
“What a game! Northwestern is one of the best, if not the best, teams in the country, laden with superstars, and I’m so proud of the way we played and fought,” said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. “We were in it all the way, which was pretty cool to see. Disappointing, yes, but knowing that we can match up with one of the best teams really helps us as we move into Sunday’s game and forward into the ACC. We learned a lot of lessons, but I’m really proud of what we showed both with and without the ball.”
In the game, Northwestern outshot Louisville 10-6, with a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal, while holding a 6-3 edge in penalty corners. Northwestern’s Annabel Skubisz made three saves to secure the win, while Louisville’s Brandelynn Heinbaugh (2-2) posted three stops, and Tatum Kroon added two defensive saves for the Cardinals.
Scoring Breakdown:
- First Quarter: Northwestern struck first with just under four minutes left in the opening quarter when Ashley Sessa connected on a pass from Elaine Velthuizen to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
- Second Quarter: After a slow start offensively, the Cardinals found their rhythm in the second quarter, producing four shots and earning two penalty corners. However, Northwestern’s defense, led by Skubisz, held strong, keeping Louisville off the scoreboard.
- Third Quarter: The Wildcats added an insurance goal in the third quarter when Katie Jones deflected a shot from Ilse Tromp on a penalty corner, extending Northwestern’s lead to 2-0.
- Fourth Quarter: Louisville had a key scoring opportunity early in the final quarter, but Rylie Wollerton’s shot was turned away by Skubisz. With 3:28 left in the game, Louisville pulled Heinbaugh for an extra field player, but Northwestern’s defense stood firm. In the final minute, Northwestern earned a penalty corner, but Louisville’s Tatum Kroon made her second defensive save to prevent further damage.
Next Up:
Louisville will look to bounce back on Sunday when they host Cornell at Trager Stadium, while Northwestern aims to continue their undefeated run in a neutral-site game against Cornell on Saturday.
