Title Showdown Between Top Seeds Set for ACC Women's Lacrosse Championship :: Maryland advances to Sunday's championship game with a 6-4 win in semifinal action.

April 25, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Top-seeded Maryland jumped out to a 6-0 lead and then held on for a 6-4 semifinal win over North Carolina at the 2008 ACC Women's Lacrosse Championship at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. The Terrapins advance to Sunday's title game for the seventh time and first since 2003.

"It was a hard-fought win and I'm really proud of the girls," Maryland head coach Cathy Reese said. "Give credit to North Carolina, who is a great team. The first half was uncharacteristic of us offensively so we need to be solid and composed and put the pieces together in preparation for another great team (Virginia) on Sunday."

The Terrapins struck quickly, scoring two goals in the first three minutes and four in the first 10 minutes, each by a different player - Caitlyn McFadden, Lauren Cohen, Amanda Spinnenweber and Casey Major. Reigning ACC Player of the Year Dana Dobbie led the team with a pair of goals in a seven-minute span, both from Kelly Kasper.

Less than a minute after the sixth Maryland goal, the Tar Heels found the net. Sophomore Megan Bosica put fifth-seeded North Carolina on the board at the 8:58 mark, posting her second goal in the tournament and 24th for the season. The Tar Heels went on to shut down the Maryland offense for the remaining nine minutes with the Terrapins holding a 6-1 advantage at the break.

UNC stormed out in the second half, scoring three goals in the first seven minutes. Sophomore Kristen Carr found the back of the net less than two minutes in, and Erica LaGrow and Corey Donohoe scored within three and a half minutes apart to close the gap 6-4. The goals by LaGrow at the 26:46 mark and Donohoe with 23:22 on the clock were the fourth for each player in the conference tournament this year.

The Tar Heels out-shot Maryland 10-5 in the second half after trailing the Terps 13-7 in the first half. Despite that effort and winning all four draw controls in the second half, North Carolina came no closer than two goals as both teams went scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Both goalkeepers made six saves in 60 minutes of action, with Maryland's Allie Buote earning the win while Amanda Barnes was in the net for the Tar Heels.

No. 1 Maryland will battle No. 2 seed Virginia, which posted a come-from-behind 10-9 victory over third-seeded Duke earlier today, at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The two teams have combined for nine of the 11 ACC crowns in women's lacrosse, but have only met three times in the championship game.