Catholic University Cardinals
The Catholic University of America's intercollegiate sports teams are called the Cardinals, and they compete in the NCAA's Division III. They are members of the Landmark Conference, the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference and the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference. The team colors are red and black.
Catholic celebrates Homecoming in the fall to coincide with a home football game.
Origin
Originally known as the Red and Black after the colors they wore, Catholic University's athletes came to be known as the Cardinals in the mid-1920s.Varsity Athletics
History
- From the founding of the NCAA in 1906 through 1955, institutions were not separated into competitive divisions, and CUA won a national championship in boxing. The football team appeared in two major bowl games, the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the 1940 Sun Bowl, which they tied.
- From 1956 through 1972, teams were classified into University Division and College Division. The Cardinals competed in the latter. During that period, the men's basketball team classified for the 1964 post season tournament.
- NCAA re-organized into three divisions in 1973, and CUA opted for the Division II level during the 1973-76 seasons, winning two national individual titles in track & field. CUA stayed as member of the Mason-Dixon Conference.
- In 1976, CUA moved to Division I, competing for five years. As independent first, and as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association later. During that period, the baseball team played the 1977 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.
- President Edmund Pellegrino decided to drop the athletic programs to Division III and Catholic finally moved in the academic year of 1981-82, joining the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. In 1989 Catholic became a charter member of the Capital Athletic Conference, leaving the conference in 2007 to join, again as a charter member, the Landmark Conference. During this period at Division III, the men's basketball team won the national championship in 2001.
Boxing
As a team, CUA won the national title in 1938. Besides, two cardinals won individual championships:- David Bernstein won the 1938 national championship in the 115-pound weight class.
- "Bingo" Stant Jr. won the 1939 national championship in the 165-pound weight class.
Football
The football team appeared in two major bowl games. In the fall of 2008, already in Division III, the team went to the ECAC Southeast Bowl and defeated Johns Hopkins University 18-17 to give the Cards their first post season win since 1936.| Year | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
| 1936 | Orange Bowl | Mississippi | W 20-19 |
| 1940 | Sun Bowl | Arizona State | T 0-0 |
| 2008 | ECAC Southeast Bowl | Johns Hopkins | W 18-17 |
The team made three consecutive trips to the Division III playoffs in the late 1990s.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 1997 | 1st | Trinity University | L | 33-44 |
| 1998 | 1st | Lycoming College | L | 14-49 |
| 1999 | 1st | McDaniel College | L | 16-20 |
Baseball
In 1977, the Catholic University Cardinals played the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship after winning the ECAC District II championship.| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 1977 | - | - | - |
| 1977 | Seton Hall University | W | 4-3 |
| 1977 | Temple University | L | 3-10 |
| 1977 | St. John's University | L | 3-8 |
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2011 | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 | Mid-Atlantic Regional | Kean University | W | 3-2 |
| 2011 | Mid-Atlantic Regional | Misericordia University | L | 0-4 |
| 2011 | Mid-Atlantic Regional | Johns Hopkins University | L | 2-7 |
| 2015 | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | Mid-Atlantic Regional | Alvernia University | L | 2-3 |
| 2015 | Mid-Atlantic Regional | Johns Hopkins University | L | 3-15 |
| 2018 | - | - | - | - |
| 2018 | Mid-Atlantic Regional | Babson College | L | 11-12 |
| 2018 | Mid-Atlantic Regional | Arcadia University | L | 2-13 |
Basketball
Men's
The 1943-44 men's basketball team won the Mason-Dixon Conference title and made the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. The team played in Madison Square Garden, losing to Dartmouth and Temple.| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 1944 | - | - | - |
| 1944 | Dartmouth College | L | 38-63 |
| 1944 | Temple University | L | 35-55 |
| 1944 | - | - | - |
The 1963-64 season, Catholic played the NCAA College Division Tournament at Hofstra, losing to Hofstra and Philadelphia.
| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 1964 | - | - | - |
| 1964 | Hofstra University | L | 91-92 |
| 1964 | Philadelphia Textile | L | 64-94 |
| 1964 | - | - | - |
The men's basketball team won the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship and was the only program in Division III to reach the Sweet Sixteen five consecutive seasons, from 1998-2002. They also reached the postseason in 1993, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, and 2016.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 1993 | 1st | Stockton State College | L | 91-106 |
| 1996 | 1st | Cabrini College | L | 65-85 |
| 1998 | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 | 2nd | Johns Hopkins University | W | 67-62 |
| 1998 | Sectional Semifinals | Hunter College | L | 82-84 |
| 1999 | - | - | - | - |
| 1999 | 1st | Lebanon Valley College | W | 77-72 |
| 1999 | 2nd | Goucher College | W | 73-69 |
| 1999 | Sectional Semifinals | William Paterson University | L | 71-79 |
| 2000 | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 | 2nd | Christopher Newport University | W | 65-64 |
| 2000 | Sectional Semifinals | William Paterson University | W | 57-52 |
| 2000 | Sectional Finals | Franklin & Marshall College | L | 74-85 |
| 2001 | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 | 1st | City College of New York | W | 82-65 |
| 2001 | 2nd | Widener University | W | 69-67 |
| 2001 | Sectional Semifinals | State University of New York at Brockport | W | 69-64 |
| 2001 | Sectional Finals | Clark University | W | 82-78 |
| 2001 | National Semifinals | Ohio Northern University | W | 82-76 |
| 2001 | Championship | William Paterson University | W | 76-62 |
| 2002 | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 | 2nd | Hampden–Sydney College | W | 74-66 |
| 2002 | Sectional Semifinals | Clark University | L | 72-75 |
| 2003 | 2nd | Montclair State University | L | 78-95 |
| 2004 | - | - | - | - |
| 2004 | 1st | SUNY-Old Westbury | W | 75-50 |
| 2004 | 2nd | Gwynedd–Mercy College | L | 72-74 |
| 2006 | 1st | Widener University | L | 59-61 |
| 2007 | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | 1st | Messiah College | W | 37-58 |
| 2007 | 2nd | Lincoln University | L | 70-81 |
| 2013 | - | - | - | - |
| 2013 | 1st | College of Staten Island | W | 67-61 |
| 2013 | 2nd | Williams College | L | 78-89 |
| 2015 | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | 1st | Alvernia University | W | 87-80 |
| 2015 | 2nd | Randolph–Macon College | L | 65-78 |
| 2016 | 1st | Endicott College | L | 76-84 |
Women's
The 2011-12 women's basketball team won the Landmark Conference title and made the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. In 2013 they won their second straight Landmark Conference title and again received the LC's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, repeating in 2015. In 2017 they received an at-large bid.| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2012 | 1st | Muhlenberg College | L | 54-63 |
| 2013 | - | - | - | - |
| 2013 | 1st | Cabrini College | W | 52-44 |
| 2013 | 2nd | Widener University | L | 56-57 |
| 2015 | 1st | University of New England | L | 50-54 |
| 2017 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 64-69 |
Track & Field
The track & field team has produced three individual national champions:- Mark Robinson won the NCAA Division II 800 meter outdoor championship in 1974 and 1975.
- Carolyn Hughes won the national championship in the 800 meters at the 1982 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships.
- Tom Caffrey won the national championship in the 1500 meters at the 1991 Division III Track & Field Championships.
Swimming
- Keats Baugher won the national college division championship in the 200 and 400 individual medley in 1965.
Lacrosse
Men's
The men's lacrosse team went to the NCAA tournament in 2015 and 2016 after winning the conference title.| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2015 | 1st | Gettysburg College | L | 3-19 |
| 2016 | 1st | Salisbury University | L | 6-19 |
Women's
In 2008, the women's lacrosse team went undefeated in the inaugural year of the Landmark Conference and won the Conference post-season tournament, garnering a berth in the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, and making it to the regional finals where they lost to Salisbury University. The team has won the Landmark Conference Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2008 | - | - | - | - |
| 2008 | 1st | Christopher Newport University | W | 18-16 |
| 2008 | 2nd | Rowan University | W | 15-9 |
| 2008 | Sectional Finals | Salisbury University | L | 7-18 |
| 2009 | - | - | - | - |
| 2009 | 1st | Messiah College | W | 9-8 |
| 2009 | 2nd | University of Mary Washington | W | 19-14 |
| 2009 | Sectional Finals | Salisbury University | L | 14-18 |
| 2010 | - | - | - | - |
| 2010 | 1st | Christopher Newport University | W | 19-9 |
| 2010 | 2nd | Salisbury University | L | 9-18 |
| 2011 | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 | 1st | University of Mary Washington | W | 18-10 |
| 2011 | 2nd | The College of New Jersey | L | 9-15 |
| 2012 | - | - | - | - |
| 2012 | 1st | Christopher Newport University | W | 18-5 |
| 2012 | 2nd | University of Redlands | W | 17-10 |
| 2012 | Regional Final | Salisbury University | L | 6-13 |
| 2014 | 2nd | Franklin & Marshall College | L | 11-17 |
| 2015 | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | 2nd | Western New England University | W | 22-5 |
| 2015 | Sweet 16 | University of Mount Union | W | 21-8 |
| 2015 | Elite Eight | SUNY Cortland | L | 12-13 |
| 2016 | - | - | - | - |
| 2016 | 2nd | Messiah College | W | 15-9 |
| 2016 | 3rd | Springfield College | W | 12-10 |
| 2016 | Elite Eight | SUNY Cortland | L | 2-18 |
| 2017 | 2nd | Washington & Jefferson College | W | 20-1 |
| 2017 | 3rd | Washington and Lee University | L | 6-9 |
| 2018 | - | - | - | - |
| 2018 | 1st | Johnson & Wales University | W | 23-10 |
| 2018 | 2nd | Rowan University | W | 14-11 |
| 2018 | Regional Semifinal | York College of Pennsylvania | L | 6-13 |
| 2019 | 1st | Albion College | W | 19-5 |
| 2019 | 2nd | University of Mount Union | W | 16-6 |
| 2019 | Regional Semifinal | Amherst College | L | 6-9 |
| 2019 | - | - | - | - |
Soccer
Men's
The men's soccer team went to the NCAA tournament in 2009, 2010, 2013 2014 and 2019.| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2009 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 0-3 |
| 2010 | 1st | Ohio Wesleyan University | L | 1-2 |
| 2013 | 1st | Franklin & Marshall College | L | 0-1 |
| 2014 | - | - | - | - |
| 2014 | 1st | United States Coast Guard Academy | W | 2-0 |
| 2014 | 2nd | Muhlenberg College | L | 0-0 3-5 |
| 2019 | 1st | Connecticut College | L | 1-2 |
Women's
Women's soccer went undefeated in the CAC in 2005 and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, repeating in 2009, 2014 and 2015 as LC champions.| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2005 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 1-5 |
| 2009 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 1-3 |
| 2014 | - | - | - | - |
| 2014 | 1st | Hanover College | W | 3-2 |
| 2014 | 2nd | Carnegie Mellon University | L | 1-2 |
| 2015 | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | 1st | Ithaca College | W | 1-0 |
| 2015 | 2nd | Swarthmore College | L | 0-1 |
Field Hockey
The field hockey team advanced to the 2001 ECAC Southern Region championship game and won the ECAC title in 2010. In 2011 CUA won its first conference championship, which propelled the Cardinals to their first-ever NCAA Tournament. They won the conference title again in 2012, and 2013. In 2014, the team earned an at-large bid and a first round bye to big dance. In 2015, they were again Landmark Conference champions.| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2011 | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 | 1st | Eastern University | W | 5-2 |
| 2011 | 2nd | Lynchburg College | L | 0-2 |
| 2012 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 3-4 |
| 2013 | - | - | - | - |
| 2013 | 1st | Messiah College | W | 2-1 |
| 2013 | 2nd | DePauw University | W | 1-0 |
| 2013 | Elite Eight | Christopher Newport University | L | 0-1 |
| 2014 | - | - | - | - |
| 2014 | 2nd | Messiah College | W | 2-0 |
| 2014 | Elite Eight | The College of New Jersey | L | 0-1 |
| 2015 | 1st | Bridgewater College | L | 1-2 |
Volleyball
The volleyball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2001 and followed it up in 2002.| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2001 | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 | 2nd | Gettysburg College | W | 3-1 |
| 2001 | Mid-Atlantic Regional Final | Juniata College | L | 0-3 |
| 2002 | Mid-Atlantic Regional Final | Ohio Northern University | L | 0-3 |
Softball
Softball has an ECAC Southern Region title.Club Sports
Student-led club teams include rugby, ice hockey, lacrosse, and sailing.Rugby
- The Men's Rugby team competes in the Potomac Rugby Conference of the NSCRO.
- The Women's Rugby team competes in the Capital Rugby Union of the NSCRO and was runner-up at the 2018 NSCRO Women's National Championship.
Ice Hockey
| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2014 | University of Maryland | W | 5-4 |
| 2018 | York College | W | 11-5 |
Lacrosse
The Men's Club Lacrosse team competes in Division 2 of the Chesapeake Conference in the National College Lacrosse League. The team has secured the NCLL Division 2 National Championship for 2015, 2016, and 2017.| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
| 2015 | n/a | W | n/a |
| 2016 | n/a | W | n/a |
| 2017 | n/a | W | n/a |
Sailing
- The Sailing team was founded in 1949 by the famous sailors Donald M Street Jr., Ed Rogers, and Boomer Curran. The team competes in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association of the ICSA.
Facilities
- Raymond A. DuFour Athletic Center
- Cardinal Stadium
- Franny Murray Court
- Carlini Field
- DuFour Center Pool
- Robert J. Talbot Field
- Softball Field
- Dowd Family Tennis Courts
- Hanley Family Weight Room
Songs
Alma mater songs
The official Alma Mater Song was adopted in 1920, when students organized a contest for an alma mater song, open to the then all-male student body. The winner was Hail CUA, but second-place winner Guardian of Truth became more popular over the years.Fight song
The cardinal's fight song is C.U. Marching Song :CUA songs and cheers
Students supporting the games in the early 1900s created the following songs and chants to inspire high spirits:CUA (CU Will Shine)
Drink a Highball
Flying Cardinals
National team championships
Division I
- Boxing: 1938
Division III
- Men's basketball: 2001
Notable athletes
- Brian Cashman, B.A. 1989, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, New York Yankees
- Edward Lynch, LL.B. 1924, featured at Ripley's Believe It or Not! for making 98 tackles in a single football game.
- Jimmy Patsos, B.A. 1989, men's basketball head coach, Siena Saints men's basketball
- Wally Pipp, A.B. 1914, first base, New York Yankees
- Rocco Pirro, football fullback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.