Led by a pair of out-of-nowhere performances from Michael Dyer and DeVante Parker the University of Louisville football team became postseason bowl eligible Saturday.
Dyer ran for 173 yards and a touchdown and Parker had nine catches for 132 yards, despite the fact that neither of whom was even a sure thing to play in the game, the Cardinals rolled over North Carolina State 30-18 in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
Will Gardner also threw a pair of touchdown passes and John Wallace booted three field goals as UofL (6-2, 4-2) bounced back from its disappointing loss at Clemson with a homecoming win.
The Wolfpack (4-4, 0-4) played the Cards tough, though. N.C. State trimmed Louisville’s lead to five (23-18) with 2:21 to play before Dyer broke free for a 46-yard TD run 1:37 later to seal the win.
Dyer (thigh contusion) and Parker (broken foot) weren’t locks to play due to injuries, but both looked very good in their returns to the field.
UofL didn’t escape unscathed, however. Running back Brandon Radcliff didn’t play in the second half due to turf toe while Dominique Brown, who is apparently dealing with an ankle injury, did’t register a carry. Add those to the fact that both wide receiver James Quick and linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin left the game due to injuries and a bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the Cards, who next host No. 2 Florida State on Oct. 30.
Here’s a quick look at what else happened in UofL sports this past weekend:
Jerry Ramirez’s goal, off an assist from Tim Kubel, with less than four minutes to play in the first overtime period lifted the men’s soccer team to a 2-1 upset of second-ranked Syracuse on Friday night in at ACC match at Lynn Stadium. Kubel’s penalty kick in the 78th minute sent the match into extra time. The Cards (7-5-1, 4-2-0) next host Evansville at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night.
Fourth-inning RBI singles from sophomore Michael Bollmer and freshman Brendan McKay gave the Kiekhefer Krush a 2-1 victory over Vrable’s VIctors in the decisive game of the baseball team’s best-of-three Pizza Bowl series. Junior right-hander Kyle Funkhouser picked up the victory in Game 3. Vrable’s Victors edged the Krush 10-8 in Friday’s Game 2 after the Krush won Game 1 2-1 this past Wednesday.
The volleyball team picked up a pair of ACC road wins over the weekend. The Cards swept host Syracuse 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-18) Friday night, then edged hosted N.C. State 3-2 (18-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-14, 15-9) on Sunday. Janelle Jenkins tallied 12 kills for UofL in its win over the Orange. Then, Tess Clark collected 17 kills and six blocks in Louisville’s win over the Wolfpack. UofL (13-7, 5-3) next plays at Pittsburgh next Sunday.
The field hockey team split a pair of home matches. Seventeenth-ranked Boston College topped the No. 7 Cards 2-1 in overtime - ending their home win streak at 16 - Friday before they bounced back with a 4-0 victory over visiting California on Sunday. Elisa Garcia scored Louisville’s lone goal in its loss to the Eagles. Meanwhile Mallory Mason, Alyssa Voelmle, Lotta Kahlert and Stephanie Byrne all found the cage in the win over the Bears. The Cards (11-4, 3-3) next play at Ohio at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The women’s soccer team took an early lead against third-ranked Virginia on Sunday, but couldn’t hold on as the visiting Cavaliers topped the Cards 2-1 at Lynn Stadium. In the 19th minute freshman Alison Price gave Louisville a 1-0 lead off a pass from sophomore Kari Weinland before Virginia rallied with goals in the 24th and 43rd minutes. UofL (6-7-2, 2-3-2) next plays at Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Thursday night.
The women’s cross country team finished fourth while the men’s squad placed 16th in the Pre National Invitational on Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind. Emily Bushey and Edwin Kibichiy led the women’s and men’s teams, respectively, both finishing 15th overall at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. Both squads will next compete in the ACC Cross Country Championships, which will take place Oct. 31 in Panorama Farms, Va.
Led by Tanja Kylliainen the women’s swimming and diving team finished second in the SMU Classic this weekend in Dallas. Kylliainen, who won the 200-yard individual medley, was named the Swimmer of the Meet.
The men’s tennis team tandem of Albert Wagner and Chris Simich fell in the doubles finals of the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional on Sunday in Nashville. Vanderbilt’s Rhys Johnson and Gonzales Austin outlasted Wagner and Simich 6-4, 6-4.
Alexandra Mally’s upset of third-ranked Marie Caseares highlighted the women’s tennis team’s appearance in the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships in Nashville. Mally outlasted Caseares 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 Saturday.
