The UNC field hockey team avenged its regular-season loss at Virginia on Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Cavaliers 3-2 in the ACC semifinals in Charlottesville.
Carolina took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first quarter. All-ACC first team honoree Ryleigh Heck opened the scoring with her 10th goal of the season, and Pleun Lammers doubled that lead eight minutes later. And unlike UNC’s loss in Charlottesville in October, the Tar Heels would not give up that lead.
Virginia scored midway through the second quarter, then scoring dried up until the final minutes, when the Cavaliers pulled their goalie. ACC Freshman of the Year Charly Bruder took advantage of the empty cage by adding an insurance goal with 3:50 remaining, one which kept her tied with Heck atop the team leaderboard with 10. That goal proved critical, as Virginia sliced the lead back down to one goal two minutes later. Fortunately for Carolina, the Cavaliers would not get another shot off in the remaining 1:50.
UNC, the top seed in the ACC Tournament, will move on to the championship game looking for its seventh straight title. The Tar Heels will take on the winner of No. 2 seed Duke and No. 3 seed Louisville on Friday at 7 p.m. in Charlottesville. Carolina beat both the Blue Devils and the Cardinals in the regular season.
Featured image via ACC Field Hockey on Twitter
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