CARY, N.C. -- Sixth-ranked Virginia advanced to the championship game of the ACC Men’s Soccer tournament with a 5-4 win in penalty kicks over No. 3 Wake Forest Friday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Wake Forest is now 14-3-3 on the year while Virginia stands at 13-3-3.  The Cavaliers will play the winner of the Boston College-NC State match in Sunday’s championship game.

The Cavaliers eliminated Wake Forest in the semifinals for the third time in the last four years.

“It was a typical ACC Tournament,” said Wake Forest head coach Jay Vidovich.  “It’s Friday night, it’s the semifinals, it’s usually rainy, the weather is bad, and Wake Forest and Virginia show up.  Unfortunately, Virginia advances.”

After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the match came down to penalty kicks.  Virginia’s Tony Tchani and Greg Monaco converted on their first two attempts and were matched by goals from Corben Bone and Luke Norman.

Virginia’s third shooter, T.J. Cyrus was stopped by a diving Akira Fitzgerald.  But the Deacons were unable to capitalize as Zach Schilawski missed the next shot wide left.

Virginia’s Ari Dimas and Jonathan Villanueva each converted as did Wake’s Alfredo Rodriguez-Allen and Austin da Luz to send the penalty kicks into sudden death.

On the sixth round, Virginia’s Neil Barlow scored on Fitzgerald but Wake’s Andy Lubahn’s shot hit the left post and came out.

The two teams played to a scoreless first half though Virginia dominated play, primarily because the Deacons were headed into a stiff wind.  The Cavaliers had seven shots to Wake Forest’s one.

“The wind was a big factor,” said Vidovich.  “That and the slippery ground made it hard for the guys to get a hold of the ball.  We gained an advantage in the second half because Virginia couldn’t come out of their half (due to the wind).  It played a factor in how the ball was played.  When the ball was in the air, the guys had a tough time getting a hold of it.”

The Cavaliers had several good scoring opportunities.  In the 21st minute, Virginia was awarded a direct kick after a Wake Forest defender was called for a hand ball.  The direct kick by Tchani was blocked by Fitzgerald.

Wake’s only shot before intermission came from Ben Newnam.

With the wind behind them in the second half, the Deacons had four shots to UVA’s two.  Austin da Luz had a breakaway opportunity in the 62nd minute but it was knocked away by a sliding Diego Restrepo.  Zach Schilawski got off a shot that bounced off Restrepo in the 63rd minute.

During the first overtime, the Deacons had the wind at their back but it was Virginia that had the most shots.  Fitzgerald had a big save in the 93rd minute when he dove to grab a shot by Tchani.  Virginia’s Will Bates had a header go wide of the goal in the 97th minute.

Virginia’s Jonathan Villanueva was given a yellow card in the 100th minute but Bone’s shot was grabbed on one bounce by Restrepo.

The Demon Deacons now await their NCAA Tournament fate. The selection show will be held on Monday, November 16 at approximately 5:30 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on ESPNEWS.