For the second time in just weeks Notre Dame played host to the two top ranked teams in men’s lacrosse. This time was a different finish for the second-ranked Fighting Irish.
No. 1 Duke started Saturday’s showdown quickly, jumping out with the game’s first score and holding a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was all Irish from there, though.
Notre Dame turned things up in a big way in the second frame, scoring four-straight goals to start the period. The Irish would dominate the segment, outscoring Duke 7-1 during the 15 minutes and leading 9-4 at halftime. The second half then began with more of the same.
Notre Dame scored again just 35 seconds into the third quarter to lead 10-4 before Duke started to mount a bit of a comeback. The Blue Devils were able to get things to 12-9, but that was as close as things would get. The Irish rattled off five-straight goals to lead 17-9 and essentially end the contest. Notre Dame wound up winning 17-11, their third victory in four tries all-time in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game.
The 17 goals were also the most allowed by Duke in a regulation game since 2015.
What happens now is that Notre Dame is almost certainly to be the nation’s top-ranked team come Monday.
Notre Dame notes – courtesy of Notre Dame media relations:
- The Irish are now 3-1 in program history in games featuring the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country.
- Notre Dame has now won three straight against Duke and four of the last five.
- With five assists on the day, Pat Kavanagh has 117 career assists, which improves his Notre Dame program record.
- Chris Kavanagh’s hat trick was the eighth of his season and 10th of his career.
- Pat Kavanagh finished with eight points, giving him 195 in his career. That total moves him into third place in program history, passing Pat Walsh (192).
- Pat Kavanagh also led the team in ground balls on the day and also posted a caused turnover.
- Entenmann recorded 15 saves, marking his seventh straight game with double-digit saves. The 15 saves are a season-high for the senior
- Dobson has 21 goals on the season and has recorded back-to-back hat tricks for the first time during the 2023 campaign.
Notre Dame is off next week before they welcome top-10 North Carolina for their home finale on April 22.
