’Cuse Advances Past Virginia to ACC Semis

Tuesday, November 5

Winston-Salem, N.C.

12:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

(13-5)

Virginia (4 Seed)

(13-4)

Syracuse

Virginia

11/5/2024 4:17:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Lana Hamilton netted the game's only goal in the 18th minute as fifth-seeded Syracuse toppled fourth-seeded Virginia 1-0 Tuesday afternoon at Kentner Stadium in the first round of the 2024 ACC Field Hockey Championship.

Hamilton took an initial shot on a fast break that was denied, but the rebound came straight back to her. The second whack found the cage and stood up as the only goal of the day. On the opposite end, Louise Pert made six saves for the Orange as Syracuse (13-5) picked up its first-ever clean sheet in the ACC Tournament.

Virginia (13-4) got five saves from Nilou Lempers and a defensive save from Mia Abello while Lauren Kenah put two chances on goal. Syracuse bested the Cavaliers for the first time since the 2015 ACC Tournament, snapping a 12-game slide against Virginia.

The Orange move on to the ACC Championship Semifinals for the first time since 2022 and will face No. 2 and the league's top-seed North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon for a 1 p.m. start on ACC Network.

How it Happened

It was a physical game on Tuesday that saw seven cards issued, including three yellows. Virginia's Noa Boterman was carded twice in the first quarter, including a yellow card at 12:53 of the first that expired one second after Hamilton's goal.
Syracuse put the pressure on Virginia early in the second quarter, getting a corner to set up back-to-back shots from Bo van Kempen and Bo Madden, but both Bo's were stopped by Lempers.
The Orange press worked to perfection as Taja Gans jarred the ball loose and got it up Willemijn Boogert who fed forward to Hamilton. The latter ripped one shot but was thwarted by Lempers. The rebound caromed right back to Hamilton who batted the ball over the line for the game's only goal.
Syracuse's defense weathered a long test as Virginia out-shot the Orange 8-0 in the second half. But only three of those shots made it to the cage and all three were turned aside by Pert. The Cavaliers picked up three penalty corners in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter but could not convert. Virginia pulled its keeper in the 53rd minute for the extra attacker but could not get another shot off for the final seven minutes of the game.

Behind the Numbers

Syracuse put all seven of its shots on goal while Virginia only put six of its efforts on the mark only to be stopped by Pert, including several second stops on rebounds.
The Orange picked up three corners, all in the first half while the Cavaliers picked up eight. Three of those corners did not result in a shot.
Hamilton picked up her first game-winning goal since her freshman season, a 6-0 win over Dartmouth.
Pert notched her third solo shutout of the season while Syracuse posted its seventh clean sheet of the year.

Up Next for Syracuse

The Orange return to Kentner Stadium on Wednesday for a 1 p.m. showdown against top-seeded North Carolina.
Wednesday's matinee will be carried on ACC Network with Leah Secondo and Suzanne Bush on the call.
Syracuse and UNC meet in the ACC Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2022 when the tournament was hosted at Duke University.