UNC scored the first 13 goals of the game. Eight Tar Heels netted a goal during the run, including hat tricks from Ortega and Aldave. Wurzburger quarterbacked the offense, dishing all six of her assists and scoring once in that stretch.
Virginia’s first goal came when Hoeg, sister of UNC’s all-time assist leader Katie Hoeg, scored with three minutes left in the second quarter. Hoeg struck again from the 8-meter in the final minute of the first half to make it 13-2, but that’s as close as UVA would get. UNC blanked the Cavs in the second half while pouring in 11 more goals.
UNC will play No. 4 Stony Brook, the tournament’s eighth seed, on Thursday in Chapel Hill. The Seawolves beat No. 12 Rutgers 11-7 on Sunday.
The Tar Heels and Stony Brook also met in last year’s quarterfinals. Stony Brook led by two with under 10 minutes left in the game, but UNC scored the final five goals to come away with the victory.
A win would put the Tar Heels in the final four for the third year in a row and fourth time in five seasons. Then, they’d look to break a streak they don’t like: three straight losses in the NCAA semifinals.