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DURHAM, N.C. The 12th-ranked and fourth-seeded Virginia field hockey team (13-8) fell in overtime to top-seeded and top-ranked Maryland (17-2) 3-2 Friday in the semifinals of the 2008 ACC Tournament. Fourth-year Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn and third-year Traci Ragukas recorded goals for the Cavaliers.
Virginia played its sixth overtime game of the season, including its second with the Terps. Ellen Ott scored the game-winner with an assist from Susie Rowe on a Maryland penalty corner in the third minute of the overtime session.
The Cavaliers were outshot 17-9 and took six penalty corners to Maryland’s nine. Fifth-year senior Amy Desjadon recorded five saves in the cage while Alicia Grater also had five stops for the Terps.
Virginia was first to strike, scoring in the 19th minute. On a penalty corner, Haley Carpenter pushed the ball out to Kaars Sijpesteijn, who took one step and blasted the ball past Grater.
Maryland responded less than four minutes later. Rowe, the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, notched her league-best 23rd goal of the season to tie the game.
With 54 seconds remaining until halftime, Ragukas recorded her third score of the tournament. On a Virginia penalty corner opportunity, Kaars Sijpesteijn took a shot that was blocked by a Maryland defender. Teammate Michelle Vittese gathered the ball inside the circle and passed it over to Ragukas, who got it into the back of the cage. The Cavaliers led 2-1 at the break.
The Terps were able to tie the game in the 57th minute. Meghan Dean scored the goal after the ball deflected off of the Virginia defense.
Virginia will now await a bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The 16-team field will be announced at 8 p.m. Tuesday on NCAA.com.