By Marian Hambrick
With five games in eight days, the Cardinal hockey team was busy leading up to Sunday’s matchup against Duke. This past weekend, the team held the Louisville Tournament and played host to #6 Michigan State, #9 Duke, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Overall, Coach Pam Bustin was pleased with the team’s efforts against the level of competition in the tournament. “These are the kind of hockey teams that we want to play with and beat and hopefully become,” said Bustin.
The women played their first game of the tournament on Saturday against VCU. The Cardinals spent most of the game in VCU territory with 26 shots inside the circle, compared to VCU’s four. “The forwards, we all played well together,” Olivia Netzler said. “As a team, we really came together today.”
Netzler, Pip Sanders, and Joanie Frame all scored in the first half, which ended 3-1. Frame and Kimberly Hughes were both credited with assists.
Danielle Barr started off the second half with a goal on an assist from Netzler and Sanders. Netzler was then assisted by Barr, followed by a goal from Jen Welgosh. Later VCU scored, but the Cardinals maintained the lead. “Quick passing and working together, that’s what is working for us this year,” Barr said.
Thursday, the Cardinals played at home against Stanford. Coming off Wednesday’s overtime loss to Ohio University, Stanford sought redemption against U of L; but the Cardinals were prepared. Louisville controlled the game with 21 shots on the goal versus Stanford’s three.
Sattazahn scored in the first half with an assist from Barr. Frame scored in the second half, and the team fended off Stanford, giving goalkeeper Christy Hershey her second shutout of the season. “Stanford has a great team, and this was a quality win for us,” said Bustin.
On Labor Day, the team also shut out fellow Mid-American Conference team St. Louis 6-0. Hughes scored early in the first half, followed by scores from Sattazahn and Elisa Eshelman. In the second half, Netzler, Sanders, and Shannon Kemp, all scored to close out the game. Hughes had two assists; Sanders and Netzler each had one assist.
Opening the season in Ann Arbor on the 2nd, U of L played a close game against #4 Michigan, finishing 0-1. Michigan scored in the first half, and the Cardinals answered with a strong defensive effort, including 12 saves by Hershey.
