CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – After two tightly contested first-round matchups, sixth-seeded Duke and fifth-seeded Virginia advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship Sunday evening on the campuses of the higher seeds.

Virginia and Duke will now trek to First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park for the semifinals on Thursday, November 12. The Cavaliers will face top-seeded Notre Dame at 11 a.m. ET, while the Blue Devils will take on second-seeded North Carolina at 2 p.m. ET. Both matches will be broadcast live on ACC Network.

In a match that featured the most goals in an ACC Championship contest since 2001, Duke came away with a 5-4 overtime victory. The golden goal came off the foot on Mia Minestrella, who converted a penalty kick to send the Blue Devils to their third straight semifinal appearance. The game-winner was an historic one as she tied a program record with 47 career goals.

After Wake Forest took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, seven goals were scored in the second half, including two Wake Forest equalizers to force extra time. After a handball was called inside the Demon Deacon box, Minestrella stepped to the spot and knocked in the game-winning tally in the 92nd minute.

In the nightcap, Virginia’s Giovana Canali scored two second-half goals and led the Cavaliers to a 3-0 victory in Tallahassee. Allie Ross opened the scoring in the 39th minute, before Canali added a pair of insurance goals in the 52nd and 77th minutes to seal the win.

It marks the second straight season Virginia has eliminated Florida State from the first round of the Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship, as the Cavaliers handed the Seminoles their worst home setback since a 4-0 loss to UCLA in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

The pair of upsets marked the first time since 2021 that both lower seeds advanced to the semifinals.

Ticket books are $40 for all six matches of the ACC Men's and Women's Soccer Championships. Single-game tickets for the semifinal matches are $10 in advance and $15 on gameday, while championship game tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on gameday. Tickets only are available online and no walk-up sales will be available.

Exclusive group pricing is also available for groups of 10 or more, along with unique on-field opportunities. For details, visit theACC.com/groups or contact tickets@theacc.org.

Upcoming Schedule (All Times ET)
2026 Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship (All Times ET)
First Round | Sunday, Nov. 8 – Campus Sites
#6 Duke 5, at #3 Wake Forest 4 (OT) | Box Score
#5 Virginia 3, at #4 Florida State 0 | Box Score

Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 12 – First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
#5 Virginia vs. #1 Notre Dame | 11 a.m. | ACC Network
#6 Duke vs. #2 North Carolina | 2 p.m. | ACC Network

Final | Sunday, Nov. 15 – First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
Semifinal 1 Winner vs. Semifinal 2 Winner | Noon | ESPNU