Fall 2010 Greatest Games Countdown #5: Women's Field Hockey Big East Semifinal vs. Louisville

Here is the first game in the Top 5 Countdown as promised. On November 6th, 2010, the Huskies defeated the Louisville Cardinals 2-1 in the semifinal of the Big East Field Hockey Tournament at the Sherman Family Sports Complex.

Below is the summary from the original review

Second game of a Big East Tournament Doubleheader. I was at part of the opener, #4 Rutgers vs. #1 Syracuse, which the Orange won in a blowout. This will not be reviewed. For this contest, although it was played on campus, the Huskies were the “away” team, and hence were announced first, wore their blue uniforms, etc. This is because they had a lower seed. Anyway, it was a packed house, about as packed as I’ve ever seen it, including a large Louisville contingent. Admission was free for me as a student, but others had to pay (unlike normal Field Hockey matches). And Louisville’s best player, who won BE Offensive Player of the Year, was ejected towards the end of the first half, her team already down 2-0. Nicole Youman will be suspended for the first game of the NCAA Tournament should her team qualify, but if not, as a Senior, there’s really nothing else to suspend her for. I don’t know how that would work exactly. I remember when Zinedine Zidane was suspended 3 games for his headbutt in the 2006 World Cup, but had planned on retiring immediately after and as such couldn’t serve it, he did three days of community service through FIFA’s program instead. Perhaps NCAA has a similar route? I don’t know. Anyway, just as a reminder, this game, and today’s final vs. Syracuse, will be reviewed but will not be included in the ratings as it is not a “home” game or a “Campus sites” postseason game.

 

The Huskies would lose to the Orange the next day. But this was still a great contest. As a student, I got in for free, although if not, I would have had to pay. This is in contrast to normal Field Hockey games at Sherman which are free to everyone. But since the Big East Conference was running this one, that's how it was. It was still pretty fun though.

The atmosphere was great, and ultimately us Husky fans went home happy while the Louisville fans did not. Louisville would not make the tournament. Syracuse would become a seeded team which meant they would host a regional. They would need Overtime to beat Penn State, however, before losing to Ohio State. UConn, on the other hand, got placed in the regional hosted by Maryland. They would beat American in a shootout, before losing to the eventual champs 3-1. But it was still a great season for the Huskies, who finished with a higher national ranking than any other fall sports team.

It was a fantastic atmosphere at Sherman. The Big East sometimes holds the tournament at Sherman, and sometimes at other sites. Here's hoping it's back here next year.

http://greguconngames.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/november-6th-2010-field-hockey-vs-louisville-be-semifinal/