Having not won an ACC Championship outright since 2016 and denied an NCAA Tournament run beyond semifinals, the Cavaliers should have more than enough firepower to break the ceiling of postseason woes, starting with the regular season slate ahead of them.
The good news is that this young squad has the time and tenacity required to learn from this season’s mistakes.
“Disappointing end to the season but Miami deserved it, especially on a day that we didn’t play our best,” Coach Ole Keusgen said.
"I think the team did a good job but, in the end, it wasn’t enough," Coach Ole Keusgen said.
Junior back Mia Abello — Leemans’ fellow co-captain and First Team All-ACC honoree — had no trouble converting on the opportunity, sending Virginia to its tenth ACC Championship final appearance and first since 2022.
Virginia survived a second half surge from Stanford to advance to the ACC semifinals.
Virginia earned its ninth ranked win after defeating Wake Forest
It has been six years since Virginia’s football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and field hockey programs have been ranked simultaneously.
Beneath the eerie glow of the Scott Stadium lights and within the hallowed walls of John Paul Jones arena, some nights were better left forgotten.
“Of course, Nilou in the back, [made] a few outstanding saves,” Keusgen said. “Unbelievable.”
It is a testament to how good this Virginia defense is that the Cardinals could not get on the board in the second half.
“We played more aggressively and creatively in the second half which led to more goals,” Coach Ole Keusgen said.
“Coming off of a loss we really wanted to capitalize on today,” Nemec said.
The loss was the Cavaliers’ first of the season.
The Cavaliers enter the contest ranked higher than the Tar Heels for the first time since 2017.
Even off the field and in academics, Lempers’ competitive spirit pushes her forward.
When the postseason begins with the ACC Tournament, all that matters is making a deep run — and fighting to reach Durham, N.C. for the national championship game.
For the entirety of regulation, Virginia managed just one shot on goal. In a vacuum, one would think that lack of offense resulted in a loss — but Coach Ole Keusgen and company had other plans.
The victory was Virginia's fourth ACC win this year.
The Cavaliers triumphed in the first of two games out West.
