Nov. 2 — The ACC Semifinals gave us two one goal games in a battle for a spot in the ACC Championship. North Carolina looked to keep their record perfect against an upset-minded Syracuse squad. Virginia looked to return to the championship for a second straight season with only Wake Forest standing in their way. Who prevailed? Read on to find out!
North Carolina 2, Syracuse 1
Ryleigh Heck scored the game-winner off a penalty corner in the fourth quarter as No. 1 seed North Carolina edged No. 5 seed Syracuse 2-1 in the first game of the ACC semifinals on Wednesday.
In a scoreless first half, both sides showcased staunch defense as Sietske Bruning knocked a shot out mid-air to keep Syracuse off the board just three minutes into the contest. Syracuse made a stop at the other end when Sienna Pegram knocked an Erin Matson shot that was headed towards the goal.
Erin Matson gave Carolina a 1-0 lead early in the third quarter when she converted on a penalty stroke after Meredith Sholder was fouled in the circle. Heck doubled that lead 54 seconds in the fourth quarter after redirecting a Bruning sweep on a penalty corner.
Syracuse cut the lead to 2-1 when Joy Haarman knocked in a pass from Charlotte de Vries, which brought them within one, but were unable to find the tying goal.
North Carolina outshot Syracuse 13-6, while also holding Syracuse to no shots in the second and third quarters. Abigail Taylor made one save, while Brooke Borzymowski made five.
Virginia 3, Wake Forest 2 (OT)
The veterans prevailed as Adele Iacobucci deflected an Annie McDonough backhanded shot two minutes into the first overtime as No. 3 seed Virginia completed the comeback against No. 2 seed Wake Forest.
Immie Gillgrass opened the scoring for Wake Forest early in the second quarter after redirecting a Meike Lanckohr shot on a penalty corner, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime. Rachel Thetford doubled the lead in third quarter after knocking in a rebound.
McDonough got the Cavaliers on the board when she tipped in a long ball from Meghen Hengerer.
Laura Janssen was issued a yellow card with less than nine minutes left in regulation. With goalkeeper Jet Trimborn pulled for an extra attacker, Taryn Tkachuk tipped a pass from Hengerer to knot the game up at 2-2 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to force overtime.
With perfect timing, Iacobucci knocked in McDonough’s backhand shot to upset Wake Forest 3-2 after being down 2-0 in the third quarter.
Virginia outshot Wake Forest 8-5, while Wake Forest held a 3-2 advantage in penalty corners. Jet Trimborn made two saves, while Ellie Todd made three.
jill gattens 