Coming off a dazzling 5-3 upset of Duke Saturday, No. 19 Virginia begins postseason play today in the first round of the ACC Tournament as the Cavaliers take on the tournament's host, No. 14 Boston College.
With the win against the Blue Devils, the Cavaliers accomplished numerous feats that will serve them well entering the postseason. The victory was their first against an ACC opponent this season and their second against an opponent ranked higher at the time in the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. Saturday's triumph also resulted in Virginia reentering these rankings Tuesday after falling out of the top 20 last week. On a more immediate note, the Cavaliers also secured fifth place in the ACC, which gives them a matchup against No. 14 Boston College as opposed to No. 3 Wake Forest.
Even more importantly, the Cavaliers finally got an offensive surge after being outscored 15-1 by ACC opponents before putting in five Saturday.
"We knew we could score all along; it was just really hard to get the ball in the net," senior Abby Taylor said. "I just have a lot of hope for our team. Offensively, defensively, we really improved everywhere."
How did Virginia manage to have this sudden outburst of improvement after such a prolonged drought? Virginia coach Michele Madison says it started with the defense.
"To be able to create attack opportunities off that defensive press is the key," Madison said. "If we can hold that together, then we have a chance to create some opportunities."
Not only is it comforting to the Cavaliers that they are playing their best hockey with the postseason approaching, but their impressive play at the tail end of the season might just raise some eyebrows on the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Barring the possibility that Virginia automatically qualifies by winning the ACC Tournament -- Virginia is one of the lowest ranked teams in the ACC, and the top three teams nationally are all in-conference -- the team is fighting for eight at-large bids. If the Cavaliers can knock off Boston College on the heels of their impressive win against Duke, it might just be enough to vault the team into a tournament slot.
"We know we can do it," Taylor said. "We're very excited. I think it's only the beginning."
Virginia has played Boston College once this season, in which the Eagles overcame a 1-0 deficit early to defeat the Cavaliers 2-1.
"We have tape [of Boston College] against us," Madison said. "Hopefully we can get everybody at full strength."
The two teams are also no strangers to each other in postseason play; they faced off last year in the opening round of the conference tournament, in a game Virginia won 2-1. This game capped a landmark season for Virginia, as the Cavaliers earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.
Last season, however, the result of the team's first-round match with the Eagles was not as vital, because the Cavaliers were in a better position to make the NCAA Tournament before the game, with a 13-6 record and a ranking of tenth nationally. With a record of 10-8 and a No. 19 ranking to finish this year, this game becomes a must-win if Virginia hopes to extend its season.
The winner of the Boston College-Virginia matchup will take on North Carolina, ranked first both in the ACC and nationally, Friday.
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