CHARLOTTE – The No. 1 Fighting Irish punched its ticket to the ACC Championship title game for the fourth tournament in a row, defeating No. 5 Virginia 18-9 with their most complete performance of the season.
An astounding 14 different Notre Dame players registered a goal in the victory. The Irish attack was led by Devon McLane’s four goals, while Pat Kavanagh, Chris Kavanagh and Jordan Faison each finished with four points off a goal and three assists.
Liam Entenmann showed why he was voted the ACC Goalie and Defensive Player of the Year earlier in the week, as he put on a masterclass in goal on Friday. The graduate student finished with 18 saves while allowing just six goals, completely shutting down the Virginia attack.
Freshman Shawn Lyght also had a remarkable game, shutting down Connor Shellenberger in his defensive assignment. The defenseman didn’t allow the All-American to record a single point while guarding him throughout the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish could not have asked for a much better opening 15 minutes of action, as they jumped on top with a score of 6-1 after the first quarter. Lynch won the first five faceoffs of the day and Notre Dame took advantage by scoring the first four goals courtesy of Will Angrick, Devon McLane, Jake Taylor and Lynch.
After a Virginia goal cut the lead to 4-1, Jordan Faison and Will Donovan scored the final two goals of the frame to put the Irish on top by five.
Notre Dame continued its strong run of play into the second quarter. After a Cavaliers goal trimmed the lead to 6-2, the Irish responded with goals from Chris Kavanagh and Jalen Seymour to extend the advantage to 8-2 with 10 minutes left in the half.
The Irish then scored two of the final three goals of the quarter, making the score 10-3 at the halftime break. The two final Fighting Irish were scored by McLane and Angrick to give the Irish the seven-goal lead after 30 minutes of play.
The Blue and Gold carried its momentum from the first half into the second, outsourcing the Cavaliers 4-1 in the period to take a 14-4 lead into the final frame. Virginia opened the scoring in the second half, finding the back of the net within the first minute and then it was all Irish the rest of the quarter.
Bryce Walker, Pat Kavanagh, Nick Harris and Max Busenkell each found the back of the net in the quarter to push the lead to 10, the largest of the day at that point.
The Irish lead grew to as many as 12 with the score at 17-5 with just under 10 minutes left in regulation but Virginia managed to score four of the final five goals after Notre Dame went deeper into its bench and the Irish won by a score of 18-9.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
- The Irish will play in their fifth ACC Championship title game in program history, including each of the last four.
- Notre Dame is now 6-0 against top-10 teams this season, including a mark of 4-0 against teams ranked in the top five at the time of the game.
- The Irish remained unbeaten away from Arlotta Stadium in 2024, going 6-0 in games played outside of South Bend.
- The Notre Dame attack has finished in double-figures for goals in every game this season.
- The Irish limited Virginia to single-digit goals for the second-straight week, marking the first time the Cavaliers have been held under 10 goals in back-to-back games since the 2016 season.
- Notre Dame leveled the all-time series against Virginia with the win at 11-11, winning each of the last three matchups.
- The nine-goal win is tied for the second largest by the Irish in the all-time series against the Cavaliers.
- Notre Dame’s nine game win streak is the longest in a season since winning 10 consecutive games during the 2012 season.
- The Irish extra-man unit was clicking on all cylinders, finishing 4-for-5 on the day.
- With four points, Pat Kavanagh has posted four or more points in 10 of 12 games this season and has finished with at least three in every contest.
- Entenmann has recorded double-digit saves in four straight games and in six of his last seven outings.
- McLane registered his fifth hat trick of the season and has recorded three or more goals in three straight games.
- Chris Conlin scored his first goal in his time at Notre Dame and his second career goal.
UP NEXT
The Irish will play for the ACC Championship title in Charlotte at American Legion Memorial Stadium at noon ET on Sunday, May 5. Notre Dame will play the winner of Syracuse vs. Duke and the game will air on ACCN.
— ND —