Hoosiers Drop Opener at No. 9 Louisville, 4-1

Friday, August 25

Louisville, KY

2 PM

Indiana University

(0-1)

Louisville

(1-0)

Indiana

Louisville

8/25/2017 4:45:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Girouard leads late push with a second half score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Indiana field hockey team commenced their 2017 season with Friday's annual Battle of the Border, the interstate rivalry between the Hoosiers and the Louisville Cardinals. No. 9 Louisville (1-0) came out on top, 4-1, converting a high percentage of their first half scoring chances. The Hoosiers (0-1) matched Louisville with six penalty corners and seven shots on target in the final team tally.

Indiana sophomore Ciara Girouard notched the first goal of the season in the 55^th minute of play, marking her fifth career score. The Big Ten preseason honoree proved her effectiveness as a midfielder after moving back from serving as a starting forward last season. Elsewhere, senior Maddie Latino created an abundance of scoring chances with two shots on target in her Louisville homecoming.

The Cardinals broke the tie in the fifth minute on the opening penalty corner attempt by defender Abby Grimes. Midfielder Marisa Martin Pelegrina scored two in a row to give Louisville a 3-0 lead, converting a penalty corner before poaching a score on a rebounded save.

The Hoosiers went to work on creating chances, leading the corner tally 5-4 after the first half. Maddie Latino drew the first two on counterattacks within 15 minutes, but both shots found a block by the defense.

Hempt earned another corner hit in the 25^th minute that nearly slipped past the defensive effort, but the goalkeeper's stick save poked the attempt out of play.

Indiana earned two attempts at the end of the half in hopes of entering the scoring ledger, both drawn by Ciara Girouard. The first attempt pushed to Girouard, who cracked a shot off of a defender's foot. The second attempt fell to Giese, who swept a shot on frame that required a kick save.

Louisville opened the second half with their fourth score in the 40^th minute. The shot flicked high into the top-right corner, evading Katie Johnson's lunging effort.

The Hoosiers fought for a strong finish to the final whistle, sparked by a momentum shift in the 55^th minute. Freshman Hanna Zarrilli played a long pass in the circle to Sheridan Weiss, which took an upward trajectory upon arrival. Weiss tapped the aerial ball into goal but after further review, officials ruled the play as potentially dangerous. Indiana earned a penalty corner.

Nora Aucker inserted the corner to Hempt, who pushed a pass to Giese for a driving shot. Louisville made the save, but Girouard collected the rebound and lifted her shot into the board. The score is Girouard's fifth in her young career and the first this season.

Indiana pushed the pace in the final knockings of the game. Latino drove for an excellent pair of shots three minutes after Girouard's breakthough, the first requiring a precise diving save from Louisville's keeper. In the 63^rd minute Latino drove yet again, sending a reverse hit towards Bente Buwalda that slipped just wide of the cage.

Up Next: Indiana (0-1) vs. No. 3 Delaware (0-0)
Saturday, Aug. 26 • 1:00 p.m. ET • Trager Stadium • Louisville, Ky.
Live Stats | Preview | Game Notes

The Hoosiers wrap up the opening weekend with another top ten showdown against No. 3 Delaware, last year's NCAA Champions. The Blue Hens won last year's encounter, 5-4, but had to hold off a valiant comeback attempt by Indiana.

The contest is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET at Louisville's Trager Stadium. Fans can follow along via the live stats tracker.

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