CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The 15th-ranked Virginia Tech women's golf team completed the Cavalier Match Play as the runner-up, after posting a 2-1 record in the two-day event that concluded Wednesday afternoon at Birdwood Golf Course.
By winning their quarterfinal and semifinal matches against six-seed North Carolina and two-seed Virginia, respectively, the Hokies set-up a date with top-seed Duke for the championship. Tech got off to a strong start and led in three of the five matches at the turn. However, the second-ranked Blue Devils seized momentum on the back nine to come from behind and win.
Becca DiNunzio and Alyssa Montgomery posted Tech's two wins in the championship match. DiNunzio prevailed 3&2 over Gina Kim, while Montgomery outlasted Anne Chen in 19 holes. With her 3&2 win, DiNunzio was the lone Hokie to go unbeaten at the event (3-0).
Advancing to the tournament final was no easy task. After Tech dispatched UNC, 3-2, tournament host and 12th-ranked UVA was next in the semifinals.
The two rivals battled neck and neck before Keera Foocharoen claimed her second straight win, 4&2 over Celeste Valinho, to post the first point on the board for the Hokies. Once the Cavaliers evened the match at 1, Emily Mahar responded with a 3&2 decision over Jennifer Cleary to push Tech in front once more. Moments later, DiNunzio delivered the deciding victory, a 1UP result over Beth Lillie, that clinched the Hokies' spot in the final.
With a taste of match play this week, the Hokies hope to put it to use during next week's ACC Women's Golf Championship. The four-day event gets underway Thursday, April 15 and concludes Sunday, April 18 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
