Virginia Defeats North Carolina, 1-0, in ACC Semifinal
Cavaliers advance to first ACC Championship Game since 2000.
ACC Field Hockey

ACC Field Hockey

Nov. 6, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia junior goalkeeper Kim Kastuk recorded nine saves to help the third-seeded Cavaliers to a 1-0 win over second-seeded North Carolina in the second semifinal round game of the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship at the University of Virginia Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

The Cavaliers improve to 18-2 overall and advance to their first Championship Game since 2000 where the Cavaliers will take on top-seeded and undefeated Maryland on Sunday, November 8. The loss drops North Carolina to 16-2 overall.

Despite being out-shot in the first half, 10-5, Virginia entered halftime with a 1-0 lead. In the 28th minute, sophomore All-ACC midfielder Inga Stöckel fired a shot that was saved by North Carolina junior goalkeeper Jackie Kintzer, but the rebound was pushed in by freshman defender Charlotte van den Broek. The goal was van den Broek’s first of the season.

The second half was marked by stingy defense, as both teams combined for just five shots. North Carolina head coach Karen Shelton decided to pull Kintzer in the 59th minute, but the 11-10 advantage did bear results.

As the closing seconds ticked off the scoreboard, North Carolina was awarded a penalty corner. With no time on the clock, senior defender Melanie Brill took the shot, but Kastuk saved the attempt to seal the shutout win for the Cavaliers.

Despite the loss, the Tar Heels out-shot Virginia, 14-6, and won the penalty-corner game, 8-3. Kastuk collected nine saves in 70 minutes in goal, while Kintzer tallied two saves of her own in 59 minutes.

Virginia will meet top-seeded Maryland in the 2009 ACC Field Hockey Championship Game on Sunday, November 8 at 12 p.m. The Cavaliers have not appeared in the Championship Game since 2000, where Maryland defeated the Cavaliers, 3-0, in College Park, Md. Both teams are currently ranked first and third, respectively, in the most recent Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Top-20 poll.

The game will be televised live by the league’s regional sports network and will appear on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports South, and by delay on the New England Sports Network.

More information on ACC field hockey can be accessed by visiting theACC.com. All 2009 ACC Field Hockey Championship information can be found on the official championship website, www.theacc.com/championships/09-fh-championship.html.