Hokie ClubDURHAM, N.C. – After a late night that didn't end until after 1 a.m. due to two hour-long weather delays and postgame treatments, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team is poised to take on North Carolina Friday night at 8 p.m.
The Hokies held on in a marathon game against Duke Thursday that was slated for first draw at 8 p.m. It got going a few minutes late, and the featured lightning strikes in the area forcing the stadium to be cleared.
Through it all, Tech earned the win 13-12, behind freshman Paige Petty and the defensive unit that kept the Blue Devils off of the board for nearly an 18-minute stretch spanning both halves.
Petty scored her 50th goal of the season Thursday as she led Tech in scoring with four goals against Duke. It was her seventh gat trick of the season. Petty, a freshman made the ACC's First Team on Wednesday.
Recap of @paigepetty26's freshman season:
??????????????
? First Team All-ACC
? 50 goals
Not done yet ?? pic.twitter.com/rGa0Ob6y7d
— Virginia Tech Lacrosse (@HokiesLax) April 27, 2018
Tech earned its first ACC Tournament victory ever with its 13-12 triumph on a waterlogged field at Koskinen Stadium.
RECAP | In a game that had 2:27 of weather delays, @HokiesLax picks up its first #ACCWLax Tournament win with a 13-12 victory over @DukeWLAX: https://t.co/sHiJhr3Rgq pic.twitter.com/NZ28s49Nkr
— ACC Women's Lacrosse (@ACCWLax) April 27, 2018
After Thursday's result, the Hokies have now won the last three games against Duke, after beginning the series 0-19 versus the Blue Devils.
Friday night, Tech's task gets tougher as the Hokies matchup with fifth-ranked North Carolina at 8 p.m.
In the regular season meeting, Carolina edged the Hokies 13-12 on March 28 from Keenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Tristan McGinley had four goals and Emma Harden added a hat trick as the upset-minded Hokies aimed for its first victory over the Heels in program history.
Down the stretch, Taylor Caskey scored a goal with 4:09 to give Tech a 12-11 advantage, its first of the day, but Olivia Ferucci scored two consecutive goals to give Carolina the victory.
The Tar Heels had six players named to All-ACC teams, this past week including three on the First Team; Katie Hoeg, Marie McCool and Charlotte Sofield. On the season Carolina is led in scoring by McCool's 50 and Jamie Ortega's 49. Hoeg has scored 70 points (34 goals, 36 assists).
In Thursday's quarterfinal game, Carolina defeated Syracuse 21-12.
Friday's game can be seen on ACC Network/RSN with first draw scheduled to take place at 8 p.m.