By Josh Lipka

It’s that time of year again. It’s a time for a brand new start, academically and athletically. Out of the 21 men’s and women’s sports teams, preparation for one team in particular has involved substantial work. The University of Louisville 2010 women’s field hockey team is far from content with last year’s results and is once again raising expectations.

This year’s summer preparation was anything but easy.

“This summer, members from the team played in the High Performance League,” said senior midfielder Nicole Youman, captain of the 2010 squad. Youman was named to the preseason All Big East team, alongside senior forward Tuli Lim and junior midfielder Hayley Turner.

The High Performance League Centers are regional training sites where national prospects can be coached and trained closer to home.

“I was fortunate to go home to Australia and play in our National League, which was a different style than American hockey,” said Youman.  “This was great preparation for the upcoming season.”

Other players had a different approach in preparation for the season.

“I went home and took a nice mental break, which I feel helped me a lot,” said senior forward Nikki Auker, who scored 8 goals in 2009 – third on the team. “I also played in the High Performance League with a variety of girls and a different coach. This gave me a different perspective that benefited me on the field.”

Following in the footsteps of Heather Bustanoby, a 2009 senior and Big East Goalkeeper of the Year, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Erin Conrad knew filling the role would be no easy task.

“I also played in the High Performance League this summer,” said Conrad, who earned a spot on the USA Field Hockey U-21 team. “This summer has helped me gain experience. Our team’s defense has been a great help, making me feel comfortable. I feel prepared to step into our team’s goalkeeping role.”

Several members of this year’s team competed in the USA Field Hockey’s National Championship on June 27. Conrad was joined by Lim and senior midfielders Karah Nall and Rachel Hollenbach. The team finished fifth, with those participating gaining valuable experience.

The Cardinals’ 2009 campaign was cut short after losing 2-0 to the University of Connecticut in the Big East semifinals.

“Last year’s ending was disappointing,” said head coach Pam Bustin. “We needed to find something to seal the cracks. The team’s pursuit of growth is contagious. We are constantly pushing to improve our game to the next level. And I look forward to the upcoming season.”

The Cardinals were ranked third in the 2010 Big East preseason poll, behind the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University. The team will open their 2010 season on Aug. 28 against Duke University at 2 p.m. in East Lansing, Mich. The Cardinals first home game will be on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. in Trager Stadium against Ohio State University.