University of Louisville Women's Field Hockey

Sowry recently completed her fifth season as head coach of the University of Louisville field hockey team. During her time at Louisville, Sowry has guided the Cardinals to 65 wins, two NCAA tournament appearances and a conference title. In the five seasons that Sowry has been at the helm, UofL has produced four NFHCA All-Americans and 17 All-Region selections.   Most recently, the 2015 Cardinals posted a 13-7 overall record and earned the programs second-straight NCAA appearance. The Cards spent seven weeks ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation. Senior Victoria Stratton and freshman Ayeisha McFerran earned NFHCA All-America honors while sophomore Nicole Woods was selected to USA Field Hockey's Under 21 team. Louisville Stratton, McFerran and Woods joined senior Elisa Garcia and junior Erin McCrudden on the NFHCA All-West Region squad.   Under Sowrys guidance, the 2014 team achieved several milestones en route to an impressive 15-6 overall record. In their inaugural season as members of the perennially strong Atlantic Coast Conference, the Cardinals posted a 3-3 record and finished the regular season tied for third in league standings. Their victories included upsets of No. 4 Duke and No. 1 North Carolina marking the first win over a top-ranked team in program history. Louisville spent six weeks ranked in the top 10 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association rankings, reaching as high as No. 5. Behind their impressive strength of schedule, the 2014 Cardinals earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost to Stanford 2-1 in overtime.   Alyssa Voelmle went on to earn first team 2014 NFHCA All-America honors, become the eighth All-American in school history and only the second first-team selection. Voelmle joined teammates Elisa Garcia, Paige Monsen, Sydney King and Mallory Mason on the NFHCA All-West Region team. The Cardinals also placed two players Voelmle and Monsen on the All-ACC teams.   That season came on the heels of a successful 2013 campaign in which the Cardinals posted a 15-5 record - the most wins since 2001 - and earned a share of the BIG EAST Regular season title with a 6-1 record in league play. Additionally, Louisville registered a perfect 10-0 record at Trager Stadium for the first time in program history. The Cardinals finished the season ranked No. 15 and were a mainstay in the 2013 NFHCA top 20 rankings, appearing as high as No. 14 where they spent four weeks.   The 2012 Cardinals registered a 12-8 overall record and made their eighth straight appearance in the BIG EAST semifinals. Three players earned all-conference honors while Amber Thomas was selected to the NFHCA All-Region team.   In her first season at the helm, Sowrys 2011 team featured six underclassmen in the starting lineup and posted 10 wins while earning the Cards seventh straight appearance in the BIG EAST semifinals. Five players earned league honors and Hayley Turner was named BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Turner and Collins were NFHCA All-West Region selections. Turner went on to become the seventh player in program history to earn All-American status.   Sowrys teams have also been successful in the classroom. In each of her seasons at Louisville, the Cardinals have earned NFHCA All-Academic team honors for achieving a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, four different players have been named NFHCA Scholars of distinction with Lotta Kahlert earning the honor three times. Eighteen of her players were selected to the ACC All-Academic Squads with 32 student-athletes were named All-Big East Academic teams.   The UofL field hockey team has also been a leader in community service through Louisvilles CardsCare program, winning the 2016 Spring Helper Helper Community Service Bracket Challenge and being recognized as the No. 1 program across all sports and divisions in community service hours per student-athlete. Additionally Sowrys teams have garnered the most community service hours of any Louisville team in 2015.   Sowry joined the Cardinals on December 16, 2010 when Vice President for Athletics Tom Jurich announced that she would become the programs eighth head field hockey coach.                 We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a world class head field hockey coach to our nationally-ranked program, said Jurich upon her hiring. Justine is an elite competitor and a great players coach. She and her outstanding staff will lead us to the next level.   Sowry returned to where her collegiate coaching career started when she was an assistant under head coach Pam Bustin from 1998 through 2002.                 With world-class facilities and a commitment to athletic excellence, the tools are available to make Louisville one of the nations elite, said Sowry. I look forward to working with the student athletes and together building a championship program.                 Sowry joined Louisville after four seasons as the head coach at UMass. During her time there, she compiled a 58-31 overall record, including a mark of 22-4 in Atlantic 10 play.  Under her guidance, the Minutewomen earned powerhouse status in the Atlantic 10 and on the national level, claiming three A-10 championships and NCAA appearances (2007, 2008 and 2010).   In 2010, her final season at UMass, Sowry led the Minutewomen to a 15-8 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in Atlantic 10 play. She also earned her third A-10 Coach of the Year and her second NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Coach of the Year honors   During her four-year tenure there, she coached 19 A-10 All-Conference selections, 17 All-Region selections, and five All-Americans. Sowry led the team to three conference titles and  three NCAA tournament appearances. The Minutewomen posted 17 wins in the 2008 season and reached as high as No. 9 in the NFHCA rankings. Sowrys teams also produced solid defensive efforts, being consistently ranked among the nations top 10 in shutouts and goals-against average.                 Prior to her time at UMass, Sowry served as a USA High Performance Coach with the U.S. Field Hockey Association (USFHA) from 2003-07. During her stint there, she was the director of all goalkeeping programs, and the camp director of the FDIC, High School Open Camp and the Junior National Camp. Sowry coached Amy Tran, who was named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2006 World Cup in Madrid, Spain in addition to being named to the FIH World Team of the Year.                 While Sowry was an assistant coach with the U.S. National team in 2006, the team placed sixth in the world at the games in Madrid. She also assisted with the 2005 Junior National Team which placed seventh in the Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile. With the USFHA, Sowry wrote the curriculum for the Futures Team goalkeepers. In 2014, she served as the Regional Coaching Coordinator for the Midwest in the High Performance program.                 Before joining the USFHA, Sowry spent a year as an assistant coach for the Stanford University field hockey program (2003).                 Sowry began her coaching career at the University of Louisville, where she spent five years (1998-2002) as an assistant coach to Pam Bustin. She aided Bustin in orchestrating one of the most remarkable program-building efforts in the nation. In their first season, the Cardinals snapped a 34-game losing streak and went on to produce winning records in each season from 2000-03 including the MAC conference championship in 2002. She also served as the Assistant Director for field hockey camps at U of L and has taught at various goalkeeping elite clinics since 1993.                 The Adelaide, Australia-native was a member of the Australian National Hockey Team from 1993-2002. She tallied 128 international appearances. She earned gold medals while playing on World Cup teams in 1994 and 1998, the Commonwealth games in 1998 and the Champions Trophy in 1993 and 1995. She earned her USA Level III Accreditation and continues to work with USA Field Hockey U21, 19 and 17 national camps.                 Sowry earned a Bachelors degree in physical education and mathematics from the University of South Australia in 1991.   The Sowry File Five seasons at Louisville Year       Record  ACC 2015       13-7       1-5 2014       15-6       3-3               Record  Big East 2013       15-5       6-1 2012       12-8       3-3 2011       10-9       3-3 Total      65-35     12-7   At UMass (four  years) Year       Record  Atlantic 10 2010       15-8       7-0 2009       12-9       3-3 2008       17-5       6-0 2007       14-9       6-1   Career 123-66                      Head coaching accomplishments 2015 - NCAA first round 2014 - NCAA first round 2013 - Louisville won a share of the BIG EAST Regular Season title 2010 - Dita/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Coach of the Year 2010 - Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year                 UMass won 2010 A-10 championship and earned an NCAA tournament at-large bid 2009 - Led UMass to 2009 A-10 title and an NCAA tournament bid 2008 - Dita/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Coach of the Year 2008 - Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year 2007 - WomensFieldHockey.com National  Coach of the Year 2007 - Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year                 Led the Minutewomen to 2007 A-10 title and an NCAA tournament appearance USA Level III Accreditation   As an assistant coach USA Field Hockey Goalkeeping Coach (2003-07) USA Junior World Cup (2005, 2009) USA Junior Pan American Games (2005) Stanford (2003) Louisville (1998-2002)   Playing Career Australian National Team (1991-2001) Two-time World Cup Gold Medalist (1994, 1998) Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist (1998) Two-time Champions Trophy Gold Medalist (1993, 1995) 128 International caps        

Piccioli is entering his fifth season at the University of Louisville. In March, 2016, he was named the program's first associate head coach after spending four seasons as an assistant coach. Piccioli joined Sowry's staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2012 season and has been instrumental in the program's success. He has helped guide the Cardinals to 55 wins and two NCAA appearances and several top 10 rankings, reaching as high as No. 5 in the nation - all while the Cardinals made a successful transition into the powerful Atlantic Coast Conference. Since his arrival in Louisville, Lucas has been instrumental in the continued growth and success of the Louisville field hockey program, said Sowry. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside someone of his talent and caliber.  Lucas brings tremendous experience as a player and more importantly, as a high performance coach. His expertise and his ability to teach individual skills and tactics have made a significant impact on the development of our student-athletes. In addition, he brings a very high level of technological proficiency that allows him to breakdown concepts and provide immediate and impactful feedback to our athletes. During Piccioli's time at Louisville, three Cardinals have earned National Field Hockey Coaches' Association All-America status and Louisville has garnered seven All-Region and eight all-conference selections. Other highlights include the following: Louisville posted a 13-7 overall record and earned its second-straight NCAA appearance in 2015. The Cards spent seven weeks ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation. Senior Victoria Stratton and freshman Ayeisha McFerran earned NFHCA All-America honors while sophomore Nicole Woods was selected to USA Field Hockey's Under 21 team. In 2014 Louisville posted a 15-6 overall record and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Cards finished their inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference season with a 3-3 mark in league play and tied for third in league standings. Louisville's conference victories included upsets of No. 4 Duke and No. 1 North Carolina - marking the first win over a top-ranked team in program history. Alyssa Voelmle earned first team NFHCA All-America honors. The 2013 Cardinals registered a 15-5 record - the most wins since 2001. Louisville also posted a 6-1 mark in BIG EAST play, earning a share of the league's regular season title. Additionally, Louisville registered a perfect 10-0 record at Trager Stadium for the first time in program history. In 2012, the Cardinals posted a 12-8 overall record and a semifinal appearance in the BIG EAST Championship. Piccioli made the journey to Louisville from Dublin, Ireland, where was an assistant coach for the Irish Womens National Team which reached its first Olympic Qualifier final in 2011. Additionally, he served the Irish Hockey Association Eastern Development Officer from 2007-12 and was the Chair of the Irish Hockey Associations Coaching Development Panel from 2010-12. In that position, he was responsible for regional youth development and established the Transition Year Program and the Youth Leader Program. He was the head coach of the Corinthian Hockey Club from 2010-12.     In 2010, he was a selector and specialist coach for the U-21 Mens Irish National Team. While working with the Irish mens team, he served as a head coach consultant, focusing specifically on forwards.     Prior to his time in Ireland, Piccioli was the head coach of the Venezuelan National Mens and Womens team from 2003-06 and served as the Venezuelan Field Hockey Federation Development Program Technical Director. He was also the head coach of the U16 Venezuelan National Team.        The Caracas, Venezuela native was a member of the Venezuelan National team from 1989-2006. He competed in the World Cup Qualifier (Canada,2004) and two Indoor World Cup Qualifiers (Canada, 2005 and USA, 2002). His other international tournaments included: the 1991 Pan American Games, the Central American and Caribbean Games, the South American Games, the U21 Pan American Games and the U21 Central Caribbean Games.     Piccioli played professionally from 1996-2004.  He began his professional career in Italy where he suited up for the Sicily Division A1Club Team Giardina Naxos Hockey Club in from 1996-97. He went to spend the 2003 season in South Africa with the University of Durban Varsity Team in the Premiership League Club. Piccioli  also played for the Honigvogel Hockey Club in Zaragoza Spain in 2004. He completed his playing career in the Corinthian Hockey Club in Leinster, Ireland.     He is a Qualified II level coach completed the IHA Tutors Training course in 2008 and the High Performance Coaching course in 2007 both in Dublin, Ireland.  

Netzler-Gray is entering her second season as an assistant coach for the University of Louisville field hockey team where she played from 2001 through 2003. In her first season coaching at her alma mater, Netzler-Gray helped guide the Cardinals to a 13-7 overall record and an NCAA appearance. In 2015, Louisville spent seven weeks ranked among the top 10 in National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll, reaching as high as No. 8. Additionally Louisville had two All-America selections, five NFHCA All-West Region picks and two All-ACC team members. In May, 2015, University of Louisville head field hockey coach Justine Sowry announced that former Cardinal standout Olivia Netzler-Gray would return to her alma mater as an assistant coach. Netzler-Gray, a 2014 UofL graduate, was a two-time NFHCA All-Region selection and currently ranks among the programs top 10 leaders in career goals and points. "I am excited for the opportunity to be back at Louisville representing Cardinal Field Hockey, said Netzler-Gray upon her hiring. I have an immense amount of respect for Justine and am very fortunate to be able to contribute to the teams success alongside her and Lucas Piccioli. Louisville field hockey has been growing in leaps and bounds. I am thrilled to be back at Trager Stadium working with the student-athletes and athletic department to continue to strive for excellence as it embarks on its second year in the ACC." Netzler-Gray joined Sowrys staff from Northeastern University where she spent the 2014 season as the associate head coach. In that capacity, she helped guide the Huskies to one of the best seasons in program history, which included a 14-5 record and the regular-season Colonial Athletic Association title. The team also competed in its fifth straight CAA tournament and at one point in the season held an 11-game win streak. During Netzler-Grays season at Northeastern, five Huskies were named to All-CAA teams and one player earned NFHCA All-America Second Team honors. Prior to her time at Northeastern, Netzler-Gray served as the head coach at Robert Morris University from 2007 to 2013. In her final season with the Colonials, she led the team to an 11-8 record and its first playoff appearance in team history. Four players received All-Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference honors in 2013, while 13 members of the team earned All-MAAC Academic recognition. Before her seven seasons at Robert Morris, Netzler-Gray served as the associate director of the Field Hockey Club of Kentucky in Louisville from 2001-06. In 2005-06, she was also the assistant athletic director at St. Francis High School, where she also served as the head field hockey and track and field coach. The Sydney, Australia native was a three-year letterwinner at Louisville from 2001-03. A two-time NFHCA Regional selection, Netzler-Gray helped the Cardinals post an overall record of 42-23 in her three seasons and was a part of the 2001 squad that earned the first national ranking in program history. She ranks in the top 10 in both goals (32) and points (91) and led the team in points in the 2001 and 2002 seasons. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2004.