Virginia Takes on Duke in ACC Championship Quarterfinals

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April 27, 2016

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia women’s lacrosse team (9-7, 3-4 ACC) begins play at the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship against five-seed Duke (9-7, 4-3 ACC) at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va.

All seven of the 2016 ACC Championship games will be televised on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks (RSN) and will also be available on ESPN3 with Tom Werme (play-by-play) and Leah Secondo (color) on the call. Live stats can be found through links on the ACC Championship Central page.

Virginia has won five ACC titles (1998, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008) and is 19-15 all-time in the ACC Championships. The Cavaliers have been the No. 5 seed twice, advancing to the semifinals both years (2013, 2014). Last season, four-seed Virginia fell to five-seed Notre Dame, 7-6, in the quarterfinals.

Virginia closed out the regular season winning five of its last seven games and three-straight ACC contests. The Cavaliers earned a 14-7 win over Virginia Tech on Friday in Blacksburg, Va., in the regular season finale. Sophomore Kasey Behr (Northport, N.Y.) has scored multiple goals in seven consecutive games and leads UVA with 39 points (36 goals, 3 assists) on the season.

Duke has lost two-straight games entering Thursday’s matchup, falling to Notre Dame 10-9 in overtime and North Carolina, 16-8. In ACC play, the Blue Devils lead the league in shot percentage (.488), saves per game (10.86) and save percentage (.539). Kyra Harney is leading the ACC in goals per game (3.14) in conference play. Goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea currently leads the ACC in saves, averaging 9.19 per game.

This will be the 36th meeting all-time between Virginia and Duke, and the second in the 2016 season. The Blue Devils hold a 23-12 advantage in the series. UVA had won two-straight over Duke before falling to the Blue Devils, 11-8, on March 26. The Cavaliers are 8-1 against Duke in ACC Championship games. It is the third time in four years UVA and Duke meet in the quarterfinals with the Cavaliers the No. 5 seed and the Blue Devils the No. 4 seed. Virginia made it to the semifinal in 2013 with a 10-7 win and advanced past Duke with a 7-5 win in 2014.

All-session tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. Single-session tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.

The winner of the Duke/Virginia game will advance to the semifinals to take on either No. 1 North Carolina or No. 8 Virginia Tech at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 29. The winner of Friday’s semifinals games will advance to the championship game on Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m.