Nov. 7, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Both Virginia and Maryland will be looking for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s automatic qualifying bid for the 2009 NCAA Field Hockey National Tournament when the two teams meet in the ACC Field Hockey Championship Game on Sunday, November 8 at 12 p.m. at the University of Virginia Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

The game will feature two of the nation’s best teams and a combined seven All-ACC selections from 2009. Virginia (18-2, 3-2 ACC), currently ranked third for the sixth week in a row by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, is having one of its best seasons in program history with an 18-2 record. Meanwhile, Maryland (19-0, 5-0 ACC), who has been the NFHCA’s top-ranked team throughout the entire season, is 19-0 for the first time in school history.

Virginia—the third seed and the Championship’s host institution—defeated sixth-seeded Duke, 3-1, in the first round (Nov. 5), and followed with a 1-0 victory over second-seeded North Carolina (Nov. 6) to advance to the Championship Game. Top-seeded Maryland finished the regular season with a 5-0 league record to clinch a first-round bye, then defeated fourth-seeded Wake Forest, 3-2, to advance to its second straight Championship Game.

Earlier in the season, Maryland claimed a 3-1 win from Virginia on October 2 in College Park, Md. In that game sophomore All-ACC midfielder Paige Selenski put Virginia ahead, 1-0, with a 33rd minute goal, but the Terrapins scored three unanswered goals—two from senior All-ACC forward Nicole Muracco (47th, 51st) and one from senior Defensive Player of the Year Emma Thomas (66th)—to earn the win.

The Terps and Cavaliers last met in the Championship in 2008 when top-seeded Maryland defeated fourth-seeded Virginia, 3-2 in overtime, in the semifinal round.

Maryland is making its second consecutive appearance in the Championship Game, its fifth in the last six seasons, and 20th overall, and will be looking for its eighth conference title. The Cavaliers have never won an ACC crown and are making just their sixth appearance in the finals, and first since 2000. Third-seeded Maryland beat fourth-seeded Virginia, 3-0, in the 2000 Championship Game.

The Championship Game will be televised live on the ACC’s regional sports network (RSN-TV), which includes Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports South, and on a delay basis 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.