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No. 4 Virginia Heads to No. 3 North Carolina for NCAA Quarterfinal Match-Up
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Sixth-seeded and fourth-ranked Virginia will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face third-seeded and third-ranked North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the 2010 NCAA Tournament on Saturday. Opening draw from Fetzer Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. Live audio (V Pass) and live statistics can be accessed at VirginiaSports.com.
Virginia (14-5) is making its first NCAA quarterfinal appearance since playing for the national championship in the 2007 title game. Under Julie Myers, the Cavaliers have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of her 15 years as head coach and her squads hold an overall record of 23-13 in the tournament. Virginia has advanced past the first round of tournament play 10 of the last 15 seasons and has claimed three NCAA Titles in the history of the program – 1991, 1993 and 2004.
Senior All-Americans Kaitlin Duff and Brittany Kalkstein lead the Cavaliers this season. The duo shares the team lead in goals, with 39 each, while Duff is tops in assists (23), points (62), ground balls (41) and caused turnovers (29). Kalkstein, one of five 2010 Tewaaraton Trophy finalists, has won a team-best 92 draw controls this year, ranking fifth nationally with a 4.84 draws per game average. Kalkstein is second on the team in assists (21), points (60), ground balls (40) and caused turnovers (28).
In goal, redshirt junior Lauren Benner has posted the nation’s 13th-best goals-against average mark, allowing 8.78 goals per game. She is also 24th nationally in save percentage, stopping 46.9 percent of shots faced.
North Carolina (16-2) has won 10 of its last 11 contests and holds an unblemished 9-0 record at home this season. All-ACC attacker Corey Donohoe and Tewaaraton Trophy finalist Jenn Russell lead the Tar Heels. Donohoe has 49 goals and 20 assists this year and finds herself in the ACC’s top three in goals and points per game. Russell anchors the midfield, as she has 30 goals and nine assists to go with 31 ground balls, 22 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers.
In goal, Logan Ripley leads the nation with a 6.69 goals-against average. She is also second in the ACC with a .518 save percentage.
In the all-time series between the two programs, Virginia holds an overall record of 12-11. The Cavaliers took the slight lead in the series with a 13-12 overtime win over the Tar Heels in Charlottesville earlier this season.
North Carolina holds the NCAA tournament series advantage, though, winning three of the four match-ups. The Tar Heels have also posted a 6-3 record over the Cavaliers when playing in Chapel Hill.
The winner of Saturday’s contest will advance to the semifinal round to face the winner of seventh-seeded Duke at second-seeded Northwestern. The semifinals and finals will be played at Towson University on May 28-31.