ACC regular season co-champions Maryland and Virginia, nationally ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively, faced off today in the semifinals of the 2010 ACC Tournament, and unfortunately for the Cavaliers, the result was all too similar to their earlier matchup this season, when the 'Hoos fell to the Terps 11-5. Tonight, the Terrapins snapped Virginia's seven-game winning streak, 10-6.
It was a shockingly low-scoring first half for both teams, one that was tightly played and that resulted in a 2-2 lockup at intermission. The other three games of the ACC Championship thus far combine to average over 21 goals per game. Senior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein gave the Cavaliers an earlier lead when she scored her first goal of the game at the 23:30 mark. Senior attacker Caity Whitely provided the assist. After the Terrapins went up 2-1, Kalkstein scored her and the team's second goal to tie it up with :20 remaining.
But it was early in the second half the changed the course of the game, as Maryland opened the half on a 5-0 run over 11:19. The late rally by the Wahoos proved not to be enough to overcome this deficit. While Maryland outshot Virginia 23-14 and scooped up more groundballs, 11-8, Virginia controlled the draw at 11-7.
The No. 4 Cavaliers will face No. 2 Northwestern next Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Chicago to conclude their regular season.