No. 19 Virginia defeated ACC Tournament host No. 14 Boston College yesterday in the first round of the ACC Tournament in a 3-2 overtime win, advancing them to the Tournament semifinals. This is the second consecutive season that Virginia has knocked out Boston College in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
Sophomore Traci Ragukas was the hero for Virginia, as she scored each of the Cavaliers' two goals in regulation, including the tying goal with just under two minutes remaining. Then, just one minute into the sudden-death overtime, sophomore Lauren Elstein emerged from a scrum in front of net and sent the ball to the boards and sent the Eagles packing.
Though Virginia (11-8, 1-4 ACC) dominated the Eagles (12-8, 1-4 ACC) in shots (21-5) and short corners (21-2), the Cavaliers were playing catch-up most of the game. Boston College got on the board first just 46 seconds into the action, as sophomore Chelsey Feole scored on the Eagles' first short corner of the game. Virginia responded quickly, however, as Ragukas put in her first goal of the match three minutes later to tie the game at one apiece. The score remained tied at one going into the second half, despite Virginia firing 11 shots and earning six short corners.
In the 43rd minute, Boston College put the pressure back on Virginia, as all-conference selection Bob Dirks converted the Eagles' second consecutive short corner. The Eagles held that lead until 68:01, when Ragukas tallied her second goal to send the match to overtime.
After Virginia fell out of the top 20 in the STX/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll last week, the team's hopes of making the NCAA Tournament appeared bleak; in order to be considered for one of the eight at-large bids, Virginia would have to pick up some wins against ACC opponents, all of whom are ranked higher nationally. With the Virginia's last two wins yesterday and over Duke Saturday, however, Virginia has done just that.
Virginia will return to the Newton Campus Turf Field this afternoon, when the team battles undefeated North Carolina in the ACC Tournament semifinals. In the only regular season match-up between the two teams, the Tar Heels overcame the Cavaliers 3-0.
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