Coming up on a decade since its last win over North Carolina, Virginia finally got back in the win column on Wednesday in the ACC tournament quarterfinals in Charlotte, N.C.
The fifth-seeded Cavaliers, who lost to North Carolina 10-9 in overtime earlier this season, were on the positive end of a one-goal margin this time, advancing to the semifinals with a 13-12 victory.
In a game that featured seven ties, Virginia took a semblance of control by scoring four straight goals to end the third quarter, turning a 9-8 North Carolina lead into a 12-9 Virginia lead. Two Mackenzie Hoeg goals were sandwiched by Katia Carnevale and Kiki Shaw tallies during what proved to be a game-shifting run.
North Carolina scored the next two, getting back within a goal, but freshman Jenna Dinardo scored one of her three goals to give Virginia a two-goal cushion with 2:35 to play.
Mel Josephson made 11 saves, backstopping Virginia into the next round.
(2) Notre Dame def. (7) Clemson 14-12
A six-goal Notre Dame run between the second and third quarters was enough to thwart an upset-minded Clemson team, advancing the Irish to the ACC semifinals against Boston College on Friday.
Trailing 7-5 after Hanna Hilcoff scored one of her four goals for the Tigers, Notre Dame went on its run to take an 11-7 lead less than a minute into the second half. Madison Ahern and Jackie Wolak, who each scored four goals in the game, both scored twice during the run.
Clemson continued keeping it close, with Hilcoff cutting the deficit to 14-11 with 9:15 to go. But the Notre Dame defense held firm, not letting in another goal until there were 39 seconds left.
