| Catholic University Cardinals | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | The Catholic University of America |
| Conference | Landmark Conference, andMid-Atlantic Rowing Conference |
| NCAA | Division III |
| Athletic director | Kevin Robinson Jr. |
| Location | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Varsity teams | 26 |
| Football stadium | Cardinal Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Raymond A. DuFour Center |
| Ice hockey arena | Fort Dupont Ice Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Robert J. Talbot Field |
| Softball stadium | CUA Softball Field |
| Soccer stadium | Carlini Field |
| Lacrosse stadium | Carlini Field |
| Tennis venue | Dowd Family Tennis Courts |
| Mascot | Red the Cardinal |
| Nickname | Cardinals |
| Fight song | C.U. Marching Song |
| Colors | Cardinal red and black[1] |
| Website | catholicathletics |
 | |
Catholic University of America's intercollegiate sports teams are called theCardinals after thenorthern cardinal, and they compete in theNCAA'sDivision III. They are members of theLandmark Conference, and theMid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (rowing). The team colors arered (PMS 1805) andblack.[2] Catholic celebratesHomecoming in the fall to coincide with a home football game.
Originally known as the Red and Black after the colors they wore, Catholic University's athletes came to be known as the Cardinals (often the Flying Cardinals, occasionally the Fighting Cardinals) in the mid-1920s.[3]
From the founding of the NCAA in 1906 through 1955, institutions were not separated into competitive divisions, and CUA won anational championship in boxing (1938). The football team appeared in two major bowl games, the1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the1940 Sun Bowl, which they tied. David Bernstein won the national collegiate boxing championship at 115 pounds in 1938 and "Bingo" Stant, Jr. won the 1939 national championship at 165 pounds.
From 1956 through 1972, teams were classified into University Division (major college) and College Division (small college). The Cardinals competed in the latter. During that period, the men's basketball team participated in the1964 post season tournament, and Keats Baugher won two national championships in men's swimming in 1965 (the 200 and 400-yard individual medley).
NCAA re-organized into three divisions in 1973, and CUA opted for the Division II level during the 1973–76 seasons. CUA stayed as member of theMason-Dixon Conference. Mark Robinson won two individual national championships in track & field (the 800 meters in 1974 and 1975).
In 1976, CUA moved to Division I, competing for five years (1976–81). As independent first, and as a member of theColonial Athletic Association later (1979–1981). During that period, the baseball team played the1977 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.
PresidentEdmund Pellegrino decided to drop the athletic programs to Division III and Catholic finally moved in the academic year of 1981–82, joining theOld Dominion Athletic Conference. In 1989 Catholic became a charter member of theCapital Athletic Conference, leaving the conference in 2007 to join, again as a charter member, theLandmark Conference. During this period at Division III, the men's basketball team won thenational championship in 2001, Carolyn Hughes captured the 800 meters national track & field championship in 1982, and Tom Caffrey the 1,500 meters in 1991.
Women's teams were established after women were admitted as undergraduate students in the 1950s, and a Women's Sports Department was established in 1959.[4] The Department originally offered dance lessons and ping-pong and badminton tournaments.[4] Jone Rastapkevicius was hired as the first coordinator of women’s sports in 1961.[4] She went on to become a coach and married fellow CUA coach Martin Dowd.[4] In the early part of her 50-year tenure, she worked to schedule games with other local colleges, thereby turning many of the intramural sports into “extramural” ones.[4] TheMetropolitan Sports Association for Women (MISAW) was founded in the mid-1960s by CUA along with Trinity College, Georgetown, American University, and George Washington University.[4] It operated until the early 1970s.[4]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Basketball |
| Soccer | Soccer |
| Lacrosse | Lacrosse |
| Cross Country | Cross Country |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Swimming & Diving | Swimming & Diving |
| Indoor Track & Field | Indoor Track & Field |
| Rowing | Rowing |
| Golf | Golf |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Outdoor Track & Field |
| Baseball | Softball |
| Football | Field Hockey |
| Rugby union | Volleyball |
The Catholic University Cardinals played the1977 NCAA Division I baseball tournament after winning the ECAC District II championship. The Cardinals have won the Landmark Conference Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2025.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | ||||
| Northeast Regional | Seton Hall University | W | 4–3 | |
| Northeast Regional | Temple University | L | 3–10 | |
| Northeast Regional | St. John's University | L | 3–8 |
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ||||
| Mid-Atlantic Regional | Kean University | W | 3–2 | |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional | Misericordia University | L | 0–4 | |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional | Johns Hopkins University | L | 2–7 | |
| 2015 | ||||
| Mid-Atlantic Regional | Alvernia University | L | 2–3 | |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional | Johns Hopkins University | L | 3–15 | |
| 2018 | ||||
| Mid-Atlantic Regional | Babson College | L | 11–12 | |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional | Arcadia University | L | 2–13 | |
| 2022 | ||||
| Ithaca Super Regional | Stevens Institute of Technology | W | 7–1 | |
| Ithaca Super Regional | Shenandoah University | W | 6–5 | |
| Ithaca Super Regional | Ithaca College | W | 16–2 | |
| World Series | Marietta College | L | 0–7 | |
| World Series | University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | L | 8–12 |
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, 2022 and 2024 they received an at-large bid.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1st | Muhlenberg College | L | 54–63 |
| 2013 | ||||
| 1st | Cabrini College | W | 52–44 | |
| 2nd | Widener University | L | 56–57 | |
| 2015 | 1st | University of New England | L | 50–54 |
| 2017 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 64–69 |
| 2022 | 1st | Ithaca College | L | 63-75 |
| 2024 | 1st | Penn State Erie, The Behrend College | W | 71-55 |
| 2nd | Washington and Lee University | L | 70-80 |
As a team, CUA won the national title in 1938. Besides, two cardinals won individual championships:
The NCAA discontinued boxing in 1961.
The football team appeared in two major bowl games, the1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the1940 Sun Bowl, which they tied. 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 |
| 2022 | New England Bowl | Bridgewater State | L 24-34 |
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 |
The track & field team has produced four individual national champions:
The men's swim team has won four Capitol Athletic Conference titles and three National Catholic Division III championships, while women's swimming has won a Catholic Division III title. The swimming program has two individual national titles as well:
The men's lacrosse team went to theNCAA tournament in 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2022 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 |
| 2021 | 1st | Stevens Institute of Technology | L | 12–17 |
| 2022 | 2nd | St. John Fisher College | L | 11–18 |
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 theNCAA 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, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
The men's soccer team went to theNCAA tournament in 2009, 2010, 2013 (at-large bid), 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022 (at-large bid) and 2023.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1st | Lynchburg | L | 0–3 |
| 2010 | 1st | Ohio Wesleyan University | L | 1–2 |
| 2013 | 1st | Franklin & Marshall College | L | 0–1 |
| 2014 | ||||
| 1st | United States Coast Guard Academy | W | 2–0 | |
| 2nd | Muhlenberg College | L | 0–0 (2OT) 3–5 (pen.) | |
| 2019 | 1st | Connecticut College | L | 1–2 |
| 2021 | 1st | Kenyon College | L | 1–4 |
| 2022 | ||||
| 1st | Lynchburg | W | 2–0 | |
| 2nd | Christopher Newport | W | 2–0 (2OT) | |
| Sweet Sixteen | Johns Hopkins | L | 0-2 | |
| 2023 | 1st | SUNY Oneonta | L | 1-2 |
Women's soccer went undefeated in theCAC in 2005 and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, repeating in 2009, 2014 and 2015 asLC champions.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 1–5 |
| 2009 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 1–3 |
| 2014 | ||||
| 1st | Hanover College | W | 3–2 | |
| 2nd | Carnegie Mellon University | L | 1–2 (OT) | |
| 2015 | ||||
| 1st | Ithaca College | W | 1–0 | |
| 2nd | Swarthmore College | L | 0–1 |
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.[6] They won the conference title again in 2012,[7] and 2013.[8] In 2014, the team earned an at-large bid and a first round bye to big dance. In 2015 and 2022, they were again Landmark Conference champions.[9][10]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ||||
| 1st | Eastern University | W | 5–2 | |
| 2nd | Lynchburg College | L | 0–2 | |
| 2012 | 1st | Lynchburg College | L | 3–4 (OT) |
| 2013 | ||||
| 1st | Messiah College | W | 2–1 (OT) | |
| 2nd | DePauw University | W | 1–0 (OT) | |
| Elite Eight | Christopher Newport University | L | 0–1 | |
| 2014 | ||||
| 2nd | Messiah College | W | 2–0 | |
| Elite Eight | The College of New Jersey | L | 0–1 | |
| 2015 | 1st | Bridgewater College | L | 1–2 |
| 2022 | 1st | Trinity College | L | 0–1 |
The volleyball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2001 and followed it up in 2002.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | ||||
| 2nd | Gettysburg College | W | 3–1 (30–22, 30–19, 22–30, 30–27) | |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional Final | Juniata College | L | 0–3 (20–30, 19–30, 13–30) | |
| 2002 | Mid-Atlantic Regional Final | Ohio Northern University | L | 0–3 (21–30, 24–30, and 15–30) |
The softball team won its first and only Capital Athletic Conference title in 1994, and went on to become the ECAC Southern Region Champions in the same season. In 2012 the Cardinals won the ECAC Southern Region Championship for the second time. In 2014 CUA won its first Landmark Conference championship, which propelled the Cardinals to their first-ever NCAA tournament.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ||||
| Norfolk Regional | Christopher Newport | L | 1–6 | |
| Norfolk Regional | Staten Island | W | 11–5 | |
| Norfolk Regional | Virginia Wesleyan | L | 3–6 |
The men's golf team went to theNCAA tournament in 2021 after winning the conference championship.
The women's golf team went to theNCAA tournament in 2021 after winning the conference championship.
Student-ledclub teams includerugby,ice hockey,lacrosse, andsailing. Rugby will become a varsity sport in 2026.
Theice hockey team competes in theDelaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) of theACHA and plays at theFort Dupont Ice Arena in Washington, D.C. The Cardinals secured their first championship in 2009, defeatingAlvernia University 2–1 to win theMason-Dixon Collegiate Hockey Association title, capping off a 14–4–2 season. The team went 13–0–0 during the 2014–15 season and went on to win theBlue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC) Championship in a 5–4 victory against theMaryland Terrapins. In 2017 the team transferred to theDVCHC. On February 10, 2019, the Cardinals secured an 11–5 victory atYork College to win the 2018 Championship. They went 15–3–0 that season.
| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Alvernia University | W | 2–1 |
| 2010 | Appalachian State University | L | 6–5 |
| 2014 | University of Maryland | W | 5–4 |
| 2018 | York College | W | 11–5 |
The men's clublacrosse team competes in Division 2 of the Chesapeake Conference in the National College Lacrosse League. The team 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 |
An important rivalry in Cardinals' history has been thefootball game against theGeorgetown Hoyas, where theSteven Dean Memorial Trophy is in dispute. The series started atBrookland Stadium in 1976.
Since 2022, thePope's Cup is in dispute in all sports againstMarymount University.[12]
The officialAlma 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 wasHail CUA (lyrics by Robert H. Mahoney and music by Victor Herbert), but second-place winnerGuardian of Truth (music and lyrics by Thomas J. McLean) became more popular over the years.[13][14]
The cardinals'fight song is "C.U. Marching Song" (1931):[15] (Music by Michael J. MacDonald & Lyrics by Clement Ducy)[16]
Sing a song of C.U.A. for all the world to hear,
Drink a toast to Alma Mater, praise her far and near,
Make a vow you'll e'er be true and do what she taught right,
Whether we win or whether we lose, we'll never give up the fight,
Down the field the men in red and black go marching on
To victory, to victory,
Driving all before them in the struggle toward the goal
Of victory, of victory.
Onward we're marching with all our might,
Marching for C.U. never yielding, ever cheering, FIGHT!
Forever onward we're marching to victory,
For the Red and Black is winning
For C.U.A. it's Fight, Fight, Fight.
Crimson and Black are above all the rest.
Always a shout and a cheer, FIGHT!
Always our colors stand out with the best,
Onward forever against any odds,
Bringing the victory near.
Students supporting the games in the early 1900s created the following songs and chants to inspire high spirits:[17]
On, CUA, we’re rooting for you
And we know you’ll win today,
So battle hard, whatever befall you
For the name of CUA (Rah-Rah)
Go down the field,
And cross the goal line
With that CU pep and fight,
And when the grand old game is over,
CUA will shine tonight.
CU will shine tonight
CU will shine,
CU will shine tonight,
All down the line.
CU will shine tonight,
CU will shine,
When the sun goes down and the moon comes up,
CU will shine.
Drink a highball at nightfall,
Be good fellows while you may,
For tomorrow may bring sorrow,
So tonight let’s all be gay,
Tell the story of the glory,
Of the Catholic University,
Drink a highball,
Let’s be jolly –
Here’s the health of CUA.
Fight Hard, Hit Hard, Buck that line!
Every man must do his part for victory!
For the honor of the red and black,
We stand behind the fighting varsity!
With our colors proudly flying high,
We will march today to victories new!
We all will back you to the limit,
Fight hard every minute,
Victory come to old CU.
Give three cheers for CU!
RAH RAH
Let us banish fear for vict’ry!
RAH RAH RAH
Everybody up!
Everybody shout
To our fighting boys of CUA!
We cheer, boys!
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