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Catholic University Cardinals
Logo
UniversityThe Catholic University of America
ConferenceLandmark Conference, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, and Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference
NCAADivision III
Athletic directorKevin Robinson Jr.
LocationWashington, D.C., U.S.
Varsity teams25
Football stadiumCardinal Stadium
Basketball arenaRaymond A. DuFour Center
Ice hockey arenaFort Dupont Ice Arena
Baseball stadiumRobert J. Talbot Field
Softball stadiumCUA Softball Field
Soccer stadiumCarlini Field
Lacrosse stadiumCarlini Field
Tennis venueDowd Family Tennis Courts
MascotRed the Cardinal
NicknameCardinals
Fight songC.U. Marching Song
ColorsCardinal red and black[1]
   
Websitewww.catholicathletics.com

Catholic University of America's intercollegiate sports teams are called the Cardinals after the northern cardinal, 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 (football) and the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (rowing). The team colors are red (PMS 1805) and black.[2]

Catholic celebrates Homecoming in the fall to coincide with a home football game.

Origin

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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]

Varsity athletics

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Men's Women's
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
Volleyball

History

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  • 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 (1938). The football team appeared in two major bowl games, the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the 1940 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 the 1964 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 the Mason-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 the Colonial Athletic Association later (1979–1981). 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, 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] The Metropolitan 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]

Boxing

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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.

The NCAA discontinued boxing in 1961.

Football

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Main article: Catholic University Cardinals football
Cardinal Stadium, Catholic University Cardinals football field, in August 2011
The 1936 Orange Bowl game ball

The football team appeared in two major bowl games, the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the 1940 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.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

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"Big" Joe Tierney, Catholic University's right fielder in 1928

The Catholic University Cardinals played the 1977 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, and 2018.

Cardinals' NCAA D–I Tournament history
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
Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

Basketball

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Men's

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Main article: Catholic Cardinals men's basketball
The 1930 Catholic Cardinals men's basketball team

Women's

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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.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

Track and field

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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

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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:

  • Keats Baugher won the national college division (Division II) championship in the 200 and 400 individual medley in 1965.

Lacrosse

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Men's

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The men's lacrosse team went to the NCAA tournament in 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2022 after winning the conference title.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

Women's

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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, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
Year Round Opponent Won/Lost Result
2008
1st Christopher Newport University W 18–16
2nd Rowan University W 15–9
Sectional Finals Salisbury University L 7–18
2009
1st Messiah College W 9–8 (OT)
2nd University of Mary Washington W 19–14
Sectional Finals Salisbury University L 14–18
2010
1st Christopher Newport University W 19–9
2nd Salisbury University L 9–18
2011
1st University of Mary Washington W 18–10
2nd The College of New Jersey L 9–15
2012
1st Christopher Newport University W 18–5
2nd University of Redlands W 17–10
Regional Final Salisbury University L 6–13
2014
2nd Franklin & Marshall College L 11–17
2015
2nd Western New England University W 22–5
Sweet 16 University of Mount Union W 21–8
Elite Eight SUNY Cortland L 12–13
2016
2nd Messiah College W 15–9
3rd Springfield College W 12–10
Elite Eight SUNY Cortland L 2–18
2017
2nd Washington & Jefferson College W 20–1
3rd Washington and Lee University L 6–9
2018
1st Johnson & Wales University W 23–10
2nd Rowan University W 14–11
Regional semifinal York College of Pennsylvania L 6–13
2019
1st Albion College W 19–5
2nd University of Mount Union W 16–6
Regional semifinal Amherst College L 6–9
2021
1st Becker College W 24–3
2nd St. John Fisher College L 9–15
2022
1st Saint Mary's College W 27–5
2nd Denison University L 12–13

Soccer

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Men's

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The men's soccer team went to the NCAA tournament in 2009, 2010, 2013 (at-large bid), 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022 (at-large bid) and 2023.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

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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.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

Field hockey

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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.[5] They won the conference title again in 2012,[6] and 2013.[7] 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.[8][9]

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

Volleyball

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The volleyball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2001 and followed it up in 2002.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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)

Softball

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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.

Cardinals' NCAA D–III Tournament history
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

Golf

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Men's

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The men's golf team went to the NCAA tournament in 2021 after winning the conference championship.

Women's

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The women's golf team went to the NCAA tournament in 2021 after winning the conference championship.

Club Sports

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Student-led club teams include rugby, ice hockey, lacrosse, and sailing.

Rugby

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Ice Hockey

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The Ice Hockey team competes in the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) of the ACHA and plays at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Washington, D.C. The team went 13–0–0 during the 2014–15 season and went on to win the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC) Championship in a 5–4 victory against the Maryland Terrapins. In 2017 the team transferred to the DVCHC. On February 10, 2019, the Cardinals secured an 11–5 victory at York College to win the 2018 Championship. They went 15–3–0 that season.

Cardinals' D–III Championships
Year Opponent Won/Lost Result
2014 University of Maryland W 5–4
2018 York College W 11–5

Lacrosse

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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.

Cardinals' NCLL D–II Championships
Year Opponent Won/Lost Result
2015 n/a W n/a
2016 n/a W n/a
2017 n/a W n/a

Sailing

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Facilities

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  • Raymond A. DuFour Athletic Center (Offices)
  • Cardinal Stadium (Washington, D.C.) (FB, FH)
  • Franny Murray Court (MBB, WBB, VB)
  • Carlini Field (MSOC, WSOC, MLAX, WLAX)
  • DuFour Center Pool (MSWIM, WSWIM)
  • Robert J. Talbot Field (Baseball)
  • Softball Field
  • Dowd Family Tennis Courts (MTEN, WTEN)
  • Hanley Family Weight Room

Rivalries

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An important rivalry in Cardinals' history has been the football game against the Georgetown Hoyas, where the Steven Dean Memorial Trophy is in dispute. The series started at Brookland Stadium in 1976.

Since 2022, the Pope's Cup is in dispute in all sports against Marymount University.[11]

Songs

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Alma mater songs

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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 (lyrics by Robert H. Mahoney and music by Victor Herbert), but second-place winner Guardian of Truth (music and lyrics by Thomas J. McLean) became more popular over the years.[12][13]

Fight song

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The cardinal's fight song is "C.U. Marching Song" (1931):[14] (Music by Michael J. MacDonald & Lyrics by Clement Ducy)[15]

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.

CUA songs and cheers

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Students supporting the games in the early 1900s created the following songs and chants to inspire high spirits:[16]

CUA (CU Will Shine)

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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

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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.

Flying Cardinals

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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!

National team championships

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Division I

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Division III

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Notable athletes

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References

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  1. ^ "Color Palette – Identity Standards – Section 2 – Catholic University of America | CUA". Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. ^ "Quick Facts". Archived from the original on 2010-10-21. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  3. ^ "History". Archived from the original on 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g MacDonald, Shane (March 10, 2016). "The Archivist's Nook: On the Origins of Women's Sports at CUA". The Catholic University of America. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  5. ^ "Cardinals to host Eastern in NCAA tournament 1st Round - Nov 7, 2011". Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  6. ^ "Cardinals headed to Lynchburg for NCAA tournament 1st Round - Nov 5, 2012". Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  7. ^ "CUA Field Hockey Clinches Its Third Consecutive Landmark Title". Archived from the original on 2013-12-23. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  8. ^ "No. 19 Cardinals to Host Bridgewater Wednesday in NCAA first round". Archived from the original on 2015-11-12. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  9. ^ "Catholic Field Hockey Readies For First NCAA tournament Appearance Since 2015". Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  10. ^ "Sailing Team". The Nest. Archived from the original on 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  11. ^ "Catholic, Marymount (Va.) Announce Pope's Cup Rivalry". Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  12. ^ Nostalgic Revue to Feature Bygone CUA Music Archived 2012-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Alma Mater Songs". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
  14. ^ Fight Song Lyrics Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "C.U. Marching Song". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
  16. ^ "CARDINAL TRADITIONS". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  17. ^ "Jimmy Patsos Bio - Siena College Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
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