U of L excels in numerous fall sports

By Noah Allison–

In the eyes of Card Nation, U of L is the best all around sports school in the country, fielding a competitive team in every athletic event. This past fall, U of L started the year off in a manner that may lead to U of L being the consensus best sports school in the country by the end of the year.

Football, field hockey, volleyball, and men and women’s soccer were the five teams that competed in a fall. It didn’t matter what event faithful fans chose to view, they were going to see a winner. All five teams had a winning record and combined for a fall record of 77-24-5 with a home record of 50-10-3. What that all boils down to is the University of Louisville hates losing almost as much as it loves winning.

Three of the five teams won the Big East, taking the regular season titles in football, men’s soccer and volleyball. The men’s soccer team was able to claim the conference that sent the most schools to the NCAA tournament and the volleyball team proved it more than once by also winning the Big East tournament.

Sophomore Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater won the Big East offensive player of the year in football. Junior Andrew Farrell was named Big East Defensive player of the year in soccer as well as being one of the 11 first team NSCAA All Americans and Junior Charlyn Corral of the Louisville women’s soccer team was selected as the 2012 BIG EAST Conference Midfielder of the Year while three other Cardinals earned All-BIG EAST honors. Amber Thomas, Erin Conrad and Alyssa Voelmle earned All-BIG EAST Field Hockey Conference honors. And Senior Outside Hitter Lola Arslanbekova won Big East player of the year in volleyball for the second consecutive season.

The fall teams enjoyed combining for eight postseason victories, volleyball won the Big East Tournament and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the men’s soccer team made it to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, and the football team upset Florida in the Sugar Bowl to win the school’s second BCS Bowl game.

Many seniors played their last fall of collegiate competition last semester, and if there is one positive about all the hard work and success that came of last year, it is that all the seniors played an integral and commendable part of U of L’s success.

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Photo: Austin Lassell/The Louisville Cardinal