Matchups set for 2022 ACC Women’s Soccer Championship Semifinals

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Notre Dame and Duke are moving on in the 2022 ACC Women’s Soccer Championship after Sunday’s first-round action.

The semifinals are set for Thursday, Nov. 3 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. The Blue Devils will face top-seeded North Carolina at 5:30 p.m. while the Fighting Irish will take on No. 2 seed Florida State at 8 p.m.

No. 3 Notre Dame 1, No. 6 Pitt 1 (ND advances 5-4 in PKs)

Brianna Martinez knocked in the fifth and final penalty-kick attempt and sent Notre Dame to the semifinals for the first time since 2016. It marked the first time penalty kicks were needed to decide an ACC Championship match since the 2016 title game.

The Fighting Irish got on the scoreboard first in the 57th minute, when Kiki Van Zanten found the back of the net off a Martinez pass. Pitt responded quickly in the 70th minute, as Katie Zailski equalized and eventually forced extra time. Note Dame totaled 26 shots for the match with 10 on frame.

Notre Dame will now face No. 2 seed Florida State in a rematch from Oct. 9, when the Irish blanked the Seminoles, 4-0, in South Bend.

Battle tested. #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/rszzMlnEMJ

— ND Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) October 31, 2022

No. 5 Duke 2, No. 4 Virginia 1

Kat Rader’s 55th-minute goal proved to be the difference, as Duke earned the first upset of this year’s ACC Championship. The Blue Devils make their second trip in three seasons to the semifinals after missing out last year.

Prior to her game-winning goal, Rader provided a timely through ball to teammate Michelle Cooper, who knocked in the match’s opening goal in the third minute. For Cooper, the goal was her 13th of the season. Virginia responded in the 36th minute on an Alexa Spaanstra goal that evened up the score at 1-1.

The Blue Devils will take on North Carolina after the teams did not play during the conference slate this season. The last time the teams met in the ACC Championship was in the 2017 final, when the Tar Heels edged Duke 1-0.

Not done yet! To the semis we go ?#GoDuke pic.twitter.com/JVPhJ2lDtZ

— Duke Women's Soccer (@DukeWSOC) October 31, 2022

2022 ACC Women’s Soccer Championship
First Round | Sunday, Oct. 30
#3 Notre Dame 1, #6 Pitt 1 (2OT; ND advances 5-4 on PKs)
#5 Duke 2, #4 Virginia 1

Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 3
#5 Duke vs. #1 North Carolina | 5:30 p.m. | ACC Network
#3 Notre Dame vs. #2 Florida State | 8 p.m. | ACC Network

Final | Sunday, Nov. 6
Semifinal 1 Winner vs. Semifinal 2 Winner | Noon | ESPNU