Context: My relationship with field hockey was a score of years ago, short-lived, and lasted for only several years.

The prepster-aged daughters of friends played for their schools. I learned the importance of the season-opening Apple Tourney.

My last game watched before yesterday was during that bygone interlude, when a Collegiate Amazon, who lived in my condo building, scored a scintillating, break away goal to win the state championship.

Despite a general lack of expertise and full understanding of the sport, I shall report on U of L’s heartbreaking defeat to Michigan.

Here’s what I do know beyond peradventure, be the hockey on ice, or artificial turf.

You got to put the biscuit in the basket.

(Yes, your hunch is true that I’m probably posting this article, just so I could write that bit o’ hockey slang.)

The scoreless first half of the Cards vs. Wolverines encounter was a defensive battle. Each averages about 13 shots/ game. The Cards fired the only shot on goal, which was rejected excellent goalie Anna Spieker. Michigan had none.

After the break, the Blue’s Anouk Veen tallied early in the 3d.

Louisville didn’t get off a shot in the 3d.

In the 4th, the Cardinals were relentless. Michigan didn’t get a shot off.

Controlling the game, U of L kept the action in UM’s end.

The Cards corner in the last with 12:26 on the clock was thwarted.

Another at 9:36 was to no avail.

Again, at 8:17, U of L had a chance that didn’t materialize.

Yet another corner scoring opportunity with 6:15 left went awry.

So too, a corner set piece to knot it with 4:44 to go.

With the ball in its defensive end, the Cards pulled goalie Sam Minrath early with over three minutes still left, to gain an extra attacker.

It worked.

Finally, with but 1:26 before the final horn, Emilia Kaczmarczyk tied it up, with an assist from Minna Tremonti. It was officially described in the box score thusly: “Slip Left Off Stop In Centre.”

Hold your brickbats, I own that I’m not sure exactly what that means?

What I do know is it gave the #3 Cards new life.

They remained relentless. Actually, so was #2 Michigan.

One sudden W OT. No score. A second sudden victory OT. No score.

Cards fell behind 1-3 in the first shootout round of five. But Minrath came up strong, stopped two shots, allowing U of L to even the game at 3-3.

The Wolverines scored on the next sudden W shootout attempt, after a Louisville miss.

Ball game.

— c d kaplan