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DURHAM, N.C. (theACC.com) – Two-time defending ACC Champion and second-seeded North Carolina moved one step closer in its title defense with a 14-8 win over No. 3 Virginia Tech in the second semifinal of the 2018 ACC Women’s Lacrosse Championship Friday night at Koskinen Stadium.
 
The Tar Heels put together an 8-0 run over 12 minutes spanning halftime which proved to be the difference in the game.
 
With the win, North Carolina improves to 14-3 and advances to face top-seeded Boston College in the title game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Ela Hazar, Marie McCool, and Jamie Ortega all tallied hat tricks to lead North Carolina in scoring.
 
Taylor Moreno made 17 saves in the win for North Carolina, a career high and one away from a tournament record. Meagh Graham tallied 13 saves for the Hokies.
 
The Tar Heels, who have won three titles in program history, will be making their 12 appearance in the title game and eighth in the last nine years.
 
Virginia Tech (13-6), which set the record for most wins in a season in program history this year, will await word of their postseason fate when the tournament field is announced on May 6 at 9:30 p.m.
 
The two teams traded goals in the first 15 minutes of the game. Charlotte Sofield got the Tar Heels on the board first six minutes in, followed by goals from Mary Claire Byrne and Tristan McGinley to give the Hokies a 2-1 lead.
 
Maggie Bill tied the game at 2-2 with her 18^th of the season, and Virginia Tech’s Julia Bolte gave the Hokies the lead back a few minutes later.
 
North Carolina closed the half with a 6-0 run, including a quick 5-0 run in a span of 3:59. The Tar Heels took advantage of their offensive chances, converting on a man-up opportunity and four times on free positions.
 
McCool tallied two goals 47 seconds apart, her 51^st and 52^nd of the season, and Gianna Bowe scored on a free position a minute later.
 
Ortega notched her 50^th on the season with 6:25 left in the half, and was assisted by Hazar, who set a North Carolina single-season record with her 41^st assist. Kara Klages pushed the lead to 7-3 on another free-position opportunity with 5:28 remaining before the break.  
 
Hazar notched her 26^th goal of the season with 5.7 seconds left, and the Tar Heel defense held Virginia Tech scoreless for the final 14:56 of the half to head to the locker room with the 8-3 lead.
 
The North Carolina offense continued its success coming out of the break with two quick goals from Hazar and Ortega in the first 1:17 of the half.
 
Virginia Tech’s Paige Petty ended the 8-0 run by the Tar Heels with a man-up goal three minutes into the second half, but Ortega answered right back 26 seconds later to complete the hat trick on the night.  
 
Bill notched her second of the game three minutes later. Katie Hoeg assisted on the goal, her sixth of the tournament tying an ACC Championship record.
 
Virginia Tech scored three of the next four goals in the game, with McGinley, Marissa Davey, and Kristen Kohles finding the back of the net to get the Hokies within six at 13-7.  The goal was the first in the career for Kohles as a senior.
 
After McCool completed a hat trick with 14 minutes remaining in the game, both teams were held off the scoreboard for more than 12 minutes before Taylor Caskey scored for the Hokies to finish the night’s scoring.