Notre Dame Lacrosse Advances to Championship Weekend with Victory Over Georgetown
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No. 1 Notre Dame delivered a resounding performance on Saturday, securing a 16-11 victory over No. 8 Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals at James M. Shuart Stadium. This triumph propels the Irish to championship weekend for the seventh time in their storied history.
For the second consecutive season, the Irish advance to the semifinals and are set to compete against No. 5 Denver on Saturday, May 25, in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Chris Kavanagh had a standout performance, tying his career high with eight points from five goals and three assists, leading the offensive charge for Notre Dame. His brother, Pat Kavanagh, also impressed with a hat trick and a total of four points from three goals and an assist.
Will Lynch dominated the faceoff circle, winning 21 of 26 attempts, gathering 12 ground balls, and scoring a goal, showcasing his versatility and skill.
Goalkeeper Liam Entenmann made eight crucial saves, conceding 10 goals, and played a key role in keeping the Georgetown offense in check.
How It Happened
The Irish started strong, scoring the first three goals to establish a 3-0 lead with over six minutes left in the first quarter. Devon McLane kicked off the scoring, followed by goals from Reilly Gray and Chris Kavanagh. Georgetown managed a late goal to close the quarter at 3-1.
Maintaining their momentum, Notre Dame outscored Georgetown 4-1 in the second quarter, extending their lead to 7-2 by halftime. Both teams traded goals early in the quarter, but the Irish closed strong with three goals in the final four minutes. The Kavanagh brothers were instrumental, with Chris scoring two goals and Pat adding another. Eric Dobson also contributed to the scoring.
Despite Georgetown scoring first in the second half, the Irish responded with a nine-goal barrage to seal their quarterfinal victory and secure a place in Philadelphia for the Final Four for the second straight year.
Stat of the Game
Chris Kavanagh's eight points set a new program record for points in an NCAA Tournament game, while his five goals tied the program's record for goals in a tournament contest.
Notre Dame Notes
- Notre Dame's record in NCAA Championships improves to 27-25, with a 22-11 record over the last 13 tournament appearances.
- The Irish have now reached the semifinals in consecutive seasons.
- Notre Dame's current 12-game winning streak is their longest since a 15-game streak in 2009.
- The Irish are 11-9 against Georgetown in their all-time series.
- Notre Dame is undefeated against top-10 teams this season, boasting an 8-0 record.
- The Irish have a perfect 8-0 record in away games this season.
- Notre Dame's offense has scored double-digit goals in every game this season.
- Chris Kavanagh became the 10th player in program history to reach 100 career goals, joining his brothers Matt and Pat in this elite group.
- Pat Kavanagh has scored at least three points in every game this season.
- Chris Kavanagh has scored five or more points in nine games this season.
- Marco Napolitano scored his first career goal, and Liam Entenmann recorded his first assist of the season in this victory.
Up Next
The Irish advance to the semifinals to face No. 5 Denver on Saturday, May 25, in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be aired on ESPN2.
