LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine field hockey team is set to host familiar foes Saint Louis and Davidson this weekend at Trager Stadium. The Knights and Billikens are set for a 12 p.m. ET start Friday. Davidson matches up with Bellarmine Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
 
About Saint Louis
Saint Louis (2-1) is coming off a pair of wins last weekend, taking down Bellarmine MAC foe Ohio 3-1 and Division II Lincoln Memorial 6-0, both at home on the blue turf. They opened with another MAC opponent, Ball State, who handled the Billikens in Muncie 3-2.
 
Though somewhat inflated by their match against Lincoln Memorial, SLU ranks 13th nationally and first in the Atlantic 10 averaging 3.67 goals per game. Graduate midfielder Olivia Smith, a product of duPont Manual High School in Louisville, is tied for the team lead with three goals, finding the back of the cage once in each of the Billikens' first three games. She also added an assist against Ohio and leads SLU with points, already nearing her career high of 10 in 2022. Junior forward Sierra Larson also has three scores.
 
In addition to Smith, SLU also carries a pair of freshman Louisville natives in forward/midfielder Dawson Packwood (duPont Manual) and forward Ella Kappesser (Ballard). Additionally, former Knight Teresa Schmidt (2019-23) serves as an interim assistant coach.
 
Sophomore Abby Schalow defends the cage for SLU and allowed just one goal in 90 minutes of work last weekend.
 
Bellarmine is 3-10 all-time against SLU, but has defeated them in each of the past two seasons. Last year, the Knights won 2-1 in overtime in St. Louis. Annie Malloy and Luna Tuncay each scored their first career goals, the latter sending in the game-winner in overtime. Bellarmine's first win against SLU was a 4-3 overtime final on September 27, 2009.
 
About Davidson
Davidson (1-3) hosts Bellarmine MAC foe Longwood Friday before making the trek to Louisville for Sunday's match. The Wildcats rolled Towson in their second game of the season, 6-1, but last weekend dropped a double-overtime match at home to Wake Forest, 2-1, before falling 7-3 at the MAC's Appalachian State.
 
The Wildcats are led on offense by senior Sib Naaktgeboren and her four goals, though she was held scoreless last weekend.
 
Sophomore Eleanor Larsen (five goals allowed, 10 saves) has started all four games in the cage for the Wildcats, though freshman Avery Foster (seven goals allowed, 12 saves) has finished all four as the duo has split time nearly equally.
 
Like Saint Louis, Davidson has Louisville representation on their roster in freshman midfielder Eliza Agan (Assumption) and freshman midfielder/forward Emilia Ostos (Sacred Heart).
 
Bellarmine is 2-3 all-time against Davidson, last dropping a road match on September 29 of last season, 2-1. The Knights last defeated the Wildcats on September 10, 2023 by a 3-2 final in double overtime. Paige Hoyer scored twice in regulation before Alicia Hudson netted the golden goal.
 
Last Week
Bellarmine dropped a pair of games on the road to Big Ten opponents, 2-1 to Michigan State and 13-0 to No. 7 Michigan. Alicia Hudson scored her first goal of the season and the fourth of her career in the loss to MSU. She was assisted by Brooke Buchanan inserting on the penalty corner, her second helper of the year to lead the team. The 13 goals by Michigan tied for the most ever by a Knights opponent, matching Division II No. 1 Indiana (PA) on October 12, 2008.
 
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