Photo by Mark Campbell
Boxscore

DURHAM, N.C. -- The University of Delaware got goals from Casey Howard and Amanda McCardell (at right) for the second straight day, but once again the Blue Hens could not keep up with a top 20 ranked team and dropped a 5-2 field hockey decision to Louisville in the consolation game of the Duke University Tournament Sunday afternoon.

Haley Jurich scored two goals and Nicole Youman tallied a goal and dished out two assists to lead No. 12 ranked Louisville (1-1) to the victory. The Cardinals, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, had lost their first round game to Duke 3-0 on Saturday. No. 10 Duke captured the tournament title with a 3-2 overtime win over No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday. The Spartans downed the Hens 7-2 in the opening round Saturday.

The Hens (0-2) will return to action Sunday when they take on Brown in the home opener at 12 noon at Rullo Stadium.

Howard and McCardell once again led the Hens in scoring while Rachel Schexnayder and Carli Shutter each dished out an assist. UD goalkeeper Noelle Diana recorded eight saves in the cage.

McCardell scored the second goal of her career 16:23 into the game off a feed from Schexnayder to cut the Louisville lead to 2-1, but the Cardinals answered with two more goals before the half to take a 4-1 lead at intermission.

Howard scored her second goal of the season and 31st of her career in the second half as she took a feed from Shutter and scored past Louisville keeper Heather Bustanoby 10 minutes in the second half. The goal cut the Cardinal lead to 4-2, but Louisville came back to score once more in the final minutes for the three-goal victory.

Louisville had taken a 2-0 lead when Youman scored off a penalty corner seven minutes and 35 seconds into the contest and Kara Nall followed with a goal less than two minutes later off a feed from Youman on another penalty corner opportunity.

AGATE:

Delaware........... 1.......1.......2
Louisville.............4.......1.......5

Scoring Summary: 1st Half - L - Nicole Youman, penalty corner, 7:35 into game; L - Karah Nall (Youman), penalty corner, 9:03; D - Amanda McCardell (Rachel Schexnayder), 16:23; L - Rachel Hollenbach (Hayley Turner), 17:52; L - Haley Jurich (Youman), 32:28; 2nd Half - D - Casey Howard (Carli Shutter), 40:17; L - Jurich (Jenna Ahern), 66:37.

Shots: Delaware - 8, Louisville - 18; Penalty Corners: Delaware - 6, Louisville - 6; Saves: Delaware - 8 (Noelle Diana), Louisville - 2 (Heather Bustanoby); Attendance: 125.