By Derek Brightwell–

The first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, unquestionably the best women’s lacrosse conference in the nation, has been a challenge for the 11th ranked Cardinals. While they have a 9-5 record on the year, they are only 1-4 in ACC play.  The record reflects what has been a brutally tough schedule for Louisville, with their losses coming against five of the top six teams in the country.

“We’re trying to find our groove, find where we fit in,” junior Kaylin Morissette said of the conference after a lopsided loss against second-ranked North Carolina. “This being the toughest year we’ve faced, not including today, we’ve done pretty good. We’re just looking for our first big top-five win.”

They have done well against the best in the country, though. With the exception of the Senior Day loss to North Carolina and Saturday’s loss at Virginia,  the other three losses (against third-ranked Duke, fourth-ranked Boston College and fifth-ranked Northwestern) have only been by a combined five points.

“It’s so frustrating and one of the things we talk with our team about is what is the unknown factor that’s creeping doubt into their minds,” head coach Kellie Young said of the close losses.

“It’s frustrating. It’s not even pride anymore because everyone keeps saying, ‘You’re just right there’ but I don’t want to be just right there anymore, I want to win,” Morissette said.

The tough competition the Cards have faced so far should prepare them for the postseason this year. By the end of the year, Louisville will have faced seven teams currently ranked in the top-13 in the coaches’ poll.

“Competition-wise, you can’t play any better. We won’t face anybody tougher come tournament time,” Young said.

Things don’t get easier for Young’s squad, either. The next two games on the schedule are against No. 7 Syracuse and No. 13 Notre Dame. They’ll be playing without senior captain Faye Brust who’s season ended with an ACL tear at the beginning of the loss to UNC. Brust currently leads the team in scoring with 45 goals and 55 points.

“She’s a leader. Her mental strength is shining right now,” Young said of her senior captain. “But this is a potential career-ending injury so we’re trying to stay positive and hope for the best but prepare her for what might come.”

Even without Brust, Young believes that her team can compete with the top-tier teams they will be facing in the remaining three games and into postseason play.

“We still have three great shooters and it’s empowering them to fill those roles and we’ve been working this week on feeding opportunities to involve other players. I feel better now,” she said.

“We’re playing top-10 and I’m always nervous whether we have Faye or not,” she added with a small chuckle.

However, it’s still been a successful season for Louisville in its first season in the toughest conference in the country. The program cracked the top-10 for the first time in its brief history.

“The future of Louisville lacrosse in the ACC is a partner and no longer the new kid on the street. We’re excited about it,” Young said.

The team is also returning most of the starters next year, and almost 70 percent of its scoring output from this season, including juniors Morissette (39 goals), and captain Cortnee Daley (37 goals) and sophomore Hannah Koloski (44 goals). Most of the defensive unit will also be coming back for the Cards’ second year in the ACC.

“(The defense has) I believe one senior in that unit and three sophomores. So the experience that all of them are gaining really puts us in a very stable position going into the future,” Young said, adding that the team has to keep focusing on this year. “Let’s get over being young; you’re now experienced. How do we get you ready to believe you belong and that these are games you should be winning? Not could be winning.”

Koloski has come into her own as an offensive threat this season, totaling 45-49 points, compared to five last season. While from the outside her burst of offense may have come as a surprise, it was something that those inside the team had seen growing in the offseason.

“I feel like by the end of last year, my confidence had started to grow. I think I found my spot on this team, like what my job was,” Koloski said. “As the season started, I saw my teammates’ confidence in me grow.”

“It’s been incredible. Her confidence has definitely grown,” Morissette said of the sophomore. “She’s so fast, so quick, seeing her grow like that, for her to be that big of an impact in the ACC for our team. I can’t wait to see what she’ll be like next year.”

“I think UNC is such a shining example of who Hannah has become because she left her heart and soul on that field,” Young added. “The next two plus years of her are going to be pretty remarkable.”

Photo by Wade Morgen / The Louisville Cardinal