CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Duke had to sweat out its revenge.

The No. 3 Blue Devils withstood a game-ending, four-goal run by North Carolina, turning back the No. 14 Tar Heels, 9-7, last night in an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament first-round game at Fetzer Field.

That allowed Duke (11-1) to avenge a one-goal loss to the Tar Heels nine days ago.

North Carolina (6-8), which has one regular-season game left, is eliminated from qualifying for the NCAA tournament for only the second time in 19 years. It also secures a third consecutive losing season for the Tar Heels, a program that has won four national titles the past two decades. Duke plays Virginia for the ACC championship tomorrow at 3: 30 p.m.

"We felt we were a better team. We knew we were a better team," Duke defenseman Dan Umbel said. "We were ready to play."

Duke attacked North Carolina with one-on-one moves, scoring eight unassisted goals in an 8-2 run to go ahead, 9-3, midway through the third quarter. The Tar Heels answered with four goals, reducing their deficit to 9-7 on Justin Bowman's score with 5: 51 left in the game.

North Carolina 2 1 1 3 -- 7

Duke 4 2 3 0 -- 9

Goals: UNC--Bowman 2, Crofton 2, Carey, Martin, Mehm; D--Durnan 3, Diggs 2, Patchak 2, Frood, Schubert. Assists: UNC--Martin 2, Collins, Crofton, Miller; D--Frood. Saves: UNC--Harkness 13; D--Breslin 14.

Today's games

Butler (7-5) at No. 1 Loyola (8-0)

Site, time: Curley Field, 1 p.m.

Radio: WKDB (1570 AM)

Skinny: The Greyhounds are looking for their 20th straight regular-season victory, second only to Princeton's 23-game streak (1996-98) this decade.

No. 13 Navy (6-5) at No. 2 Johns Hopkins (8-1)

Site, time: Homewood Field, 3 p.m.

Radio: WJFK (1300 AM), WNAV (1430 AM)

Skinny: In their 24-game winning streak in this series, the Blue Jays have won by an average of six goals.