Iacobucci sends No. 3 seed Virginia to ACC Championship with OT winner vs. No. 2 Wake

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia field hockey team advanced to the championship game of the 2022 ACC Field Hockey Championship after topping second-seed Wake Forest, 3-2, in overtime on Wednesday in semifinal action at Jack Katz Stadium in Durham, N.C.

Taryn Tkachuk tied the game with 1:35 remaining in regulation. Adele Iacobucci scored the game-winner 1:27 into the extra period.

Third-seeded Virginia (13-6, 3-3 ACC) will take on top-seeded North Carolina (16-0, 6-0) on Friday at 2 p.m. in the final. This will be the second-straight meeting of the two teams in the championship match.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game began as a battle of the midfield, with Daniela Mendez-Trendler taking the only shot of the first quarter. Wake Forest broke the deadlock by scoring a goal off a penalty corner to take a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second period. The Demon Deacons added a second score five minutes into the second half when Rachel Thetford scored a second-chance goal.

Virginia started its comeback 2:40 later when Meghen Hengerer smashed a long pass from outside the circle to Annie McDonough, who was positioned in front of the cage. The pass deflected off of McDonough’s stick into the net to cut the deficit in half.

With 4:09 remaining, Virginia pulled the goalie to add an extra attacker. The Cavaliers went on the immediate attack, with a shot from McDonough being swiped away from the goal line by a Demon Deacon defender. Thirty seconds later, Hengerer sent another long pass into the circle, this time finding Tkachuk, who lifted the ball into the upper corner of the net to tie the game with 1:35 remaining.

Virginia began the overtime period with possession and held it for most of the extra time. McDonough dribbled the ball into the circle and fired off a pass. Iacobucci slid on her knees to get to the ball, firing off her shot while on the ground but still finding the target to end the game 1:27 into the extra period.

Check out the highlights from our overtime thriller against Wake Forest in the ACC Championship Semifinals #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/YaFhAMcO2d

— Virginia Field Hockey (@UVAFieldHockey) November 3, 2022

NOTES

• Virginia held an 8-5 edge in shots; Wake Forest had a 3-2 edge in corners
• Both goalkeepers made two saves
• Virginia is looking for its second ACC title. The team won its only championship in 2016. That year, UVA was the 6-seed in the tournament, becoming the lowest-ever seed to win the ACC Field Hockey Championship
• Virginia won the 2016 title with a 4-2 win against UNC after losing to the Tar Heels in the regular-season 3-2 in overtime
• This will be Virginia’s ninth time playing in the championship game and Michele Madison’s fourth time playing for the title. She was the runner-up in 2009 and 2021, in addition to the 2016 championship

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“Big players have to make big plays and big games, and we did today. The team today showed amazing character and guts and belief, and execution to score three world-class goals. To win that game was just fantastic. Period. The defense held strong. It took us a while to get adjusted to how Wake was playing and attacking our press. In the second half, we were able to dominate and apply the pressure we needed to apply. It was a fantastic tournament game against a very good Wake team.”

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• The final will air on the ACC Network and stream online on ACCNX
• Live stats be available
• Links are posted on VirginiaSports.com