CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Behind five goals from Blair Guy and a cohesive team effort, Virginia Tech gave No. 2 Syracuse all it could handle in a 14-12 defeat in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
Guy opened the game with her first of a career-high five strikes at the 9:45 mark in the first quarter. Shortly after, the Hokies nearly went up 2-0, but Ella Rishko's shot that crept past Tewaaraton Finalist Delaney Sweitzer into 'Cuse's cage was called back after a review.
Syracuse went on a 4-1 run after that sequence - broken up by Maura O'Malley's goal off an Olivia Vergano assist - that gave the second-seeded Orange a 4-2 lead. Guy cut into Syracuse's lead with her second goal at the 7:44 mark in the second quarter before Vergano evened the score with a goal of her own.
After exchanging goals to tie the game at 5-5, Syracuse notched another goal with 16 seconds remaining in the half to grab the lead.
The Orange looked like they were beginning to separate themselves from Tech when they started the second half with a 3-0 run, but Ella Rishko scored two free-position attempts. Hannah Mardiney and Guy also got in one the third quarter scoring act and sent Tech into the fourth trailing 11-9.
After another Orange goal, Claire Schotta scored in the final frame then Guy tacked on her fifth after to bring Tech back within one. Syracuse pulled away again, however, with two more goals, while the Hokies only tacked one more on.
Freshman Jocelyn Torres recorded eight saves on the night - most coming in clutch situations to stifle Syracuse's momentum. With her seven draw controls, Sarah Gresham's final rookie year tally ends at a school-record 111.
