In an exciting development for field hockey enthusiasts, two former University of Louisville players, Ayeisha McFerran and Mercedes Pastor, are set to compete for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. McFerran, hailing from Larne, Northern Ireland, played for Louisville from 2015-2018 and earned the distinction of becoming the program’s first four-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American. Her exceptional skills as a goalkeeper helped her reach impressive milestones, including ranking in the top three for career victories, shutouts, and goals against average in Louisville’s history.
McFerran has been an integral part of the Irish national team for 11 seasons. In a groundbreaking achievement, she became the first player from Louisville to secure a place on an Olympic field hockey roster when she helped Ireland qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Now, she aims to continue her Olympic journey as she competes with Ireland in the upcoming qualifier in Valencia, Spain.
Joining McFerran in pursuit of an Olympic berth is Mercedes Pastor, who played for Louisville from 2018-2021. Pastor, a midfielder/forward with dual citizenship in Italy and Argentina, showcased her talent during her time at Louisville, earning the title of three-time NFHCA All-American and the 2020 West Region Player of the Year. She was also recognized as a finalist for the Class of 2020 Honda Award and awarded the 2021 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship.
Pastor’s skills have also caught the attention of the Italian national team, with whom she is currently in her first season. She will be representing Italy in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier held in Ranchi, India. This tournament, taking place from January 13-19, 2024, will feature eight teams, including Germany, India, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, the United States, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
A total of 12 women’s teams will have the opportunity to compete in the Hockey event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The top three teams from each of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers will secure their qualification. As of now, five teams (Australia, the Netherlands, China, Argentina, and South Africa) have already earned their berths as Continental Champions, while France has gained qualification as the host country.
The teams competing in the qualifier in Valencia, Spain include Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, Korea, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia, and Ukraine. Meanwhile, the teams in the qualifier in Ranchi, India consist of Germany, India, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, the United States, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
This upcoming week will undoubtedly be filled with intense matches and fierce competition as these talented athletes vie for their chance to represent their countries in the highly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics. Field hockey fans from all over eagerly await the results and will be following McFerran and Pastor’s journeys closely.
For the latest updates on Louisville Field Hockey and to support these former players, visit GoCards.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at LouisvilleFH.
