Senior LSM Bobby Smith and the Fighting Irish will look for their ninth straight victory when they face Villanova on Saturday.

#4 Irish Travel To #11 Villanova For Key BIG EAST Clash

April 19, 2012

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#4 NOTRE DAME
vs.
#11 VILLANOVA

Saturday, April 21 – 5:30 p.m. (ET)
Villanova Stadium – Villanova, Pa.

TV/INTERNET:
ESPNU/ESPN3
Mike Corey (play-by-play)
Matt Ward (analyst)
LIVE STATS:
GameTracker on UND.com
UPDATES:
Irish Alert! text messaging
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#4 IRISH AT #11 VILLANOVA ON SATURDAY
– No. 4 Notre Dame (9-1, 4-0) will travel to #11 Villanova (8-4, 4-0) for Saturday’s key BIG EAST clash. Faceoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (ET) at Villanova Stadium. The Fighting Irish and Wildcats are tied for first in the BIG EAST. Both teams already have qualified for the BIG EAST Championship.
– The game will be aired on ESPNU/ESPN3. Mike Corey will handle play-by-play duties, while Matt Ward will serve as the analyst. Live stats will be available via GameTracker on UND.com.
– The Irish will bring an eight-game win streak into Saturday’s contest. Notre Dame is coming off a 9-7 win at Georgetown.
– Notre Dame’s defense ranks first nationally by allowing just 5.6 goals per game.

NOTRE DAME-VILLANOVA SERIES HISTORY
– Saturday will be the 16th meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Villanova. The Fighting Irish lead the series 10-5, including wins in 10 of the last 11 meetings. Notre Dame captured a 12-8 home win over Villanova last season. The Irish fell at Villanova, 9-8, during the 2010 campaign. Notre Dame is 5-2 all-time at Villanova.

A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS
– Villanova will bring an 8-4 record into Saturday’s matchup with the Irish. The Wildcats are 4-0 in BIG EAST play with the wins coming against Syracuse (11-10), Georgetown (15-7), Rutgers (14-9) and St. John’s (10-8).
– The Wildcats are averaging 11.0 goals scored per game, while surrendering 10.0 per game. Junior attackman Jack Rice has a team-high 26 goals, while senior attackman Kevin Cunningham has 17 goals and 18 assists for a team-best 35 points. Senior Dan Gutierrez has every decision in goal and carries a 9.93 goals-against average with a .491 save percentage.
– Villanova posted an 11-5 record last season, which included a 3-3 mark in BIG EAST play. The Wildcats fell at Denver, 13-10, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
– Head coach Mike Corrado is in his sixth season at the helm of the Wildcat program.

THE LAST TIME
– Notre Dame topped Villanova 12-8 last season at Arlotta Stadium. The Fighting Irish led 7-5 at halftime and then outscored the Wildcats 5-3 in the second half.
Westy Hopkins, a current sophomore, and Colin Igoe both tallied three goals for the Irish. Notre Dame goalie John Kemp made 11 saves in the victory.

QUITE A COMEBACK
– Notre Dame trailed Georgetown by four goals (5-1) at halftime of Sunday’s contest, yet outscored the Hoyas 8-2 in the second half en route to the victory. The Irish tallied six straight goals to open the second half.
– The four-goal halftime deficit was the largest Notre Dame has ever overcome to win a game in the Kevin Corrigan era, which began in 1989.
– The Fighting Irish defense allowed just two goals in the final 36:47 of the game, including a 30-minute scoreless streak for the Hoyas from the 6:47 mark of the second quarter until the 8:13 mark of the fourth quarter.

STREAKING
– Notre Dame has registered a winning streak of at least eight games in length in three of the last four seasons, including this year.
– Notre Dame’s current eight-game win streak is tied for the fifth-longest in program history. The school record is 15 straight wins, which occurred in 2009.

A DOMINATING DEFENSE
– Notre Dame’s defense ranks first nationally by surrendering just 5.6 goals per game this season. That mark is on pace to eclipse the program-record 6.19 goals-against average from the 2009 season.
– Notre Dame has held five opponents this season to five goals or fewer for the entire game.

SECOND HALF SHUTDOWNS
– The Irish have outscored their opponents 46-27 in the second half this season, including 23-4 in the last three games.
– Notre Dame is 3-0 this season when trailing at halftime.

KEEPING THEM DOWN
– Notre Dame’s man-down defense ranks first nationally. That unit has given up just two goals in 25 chances (0.92).

SCORELESS STREAKS
– The Notre Dame defense has posted a scoreless streak totaling 30 minutes or longer four times this season, including two streaks over 40 minutes in length.
– The Irish had a season-best scoreless streak of 41:57 in the 9-1 win over Providence. After scoring their lone goal with 11:57 left in the second quarter, the Friars did not score for the remainder of the contest.
– The Fighting Irish posted a scoreless streak of 40:24 in the 7-3 season-opening win over Duke. That streak began at the 10:42 mark of the second quarter and ended with 18 seconds left in the contest.
– At Drexel, Notre Dame held the Dragons scoreless for 33:27 from midway through the first quarter to the 3:33 mark of the third quarter.
– The Irish held Georgetown without a goal for 30 minutes in Sunday’s 9-7 victory. The Hoyas did not score from the 6:47 mark of the second quarter until the 8:13 mark of the fourth quarter.

KEMP COPS BIG EAST PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK HONORS
– Junior goalie John Kemp on Monday was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. Kemp made 13 saves in Sunday’s 9-7 victory at Georgetown.
– Kemp and the Notre Dame defense held the Hoyas without a goal for 30 minutes from the 6:47 mark of the second quarter until the 8:13 mark of the fourth quarter. Kemp allowed just two goals in the final 36:47 of the contest en route to Notre Dame’s eighth straight victory.
– This is Kemp’s second defensive player-of-the-week honor from the league this season. He also garnered the accolade on Feb. 20. Kemp was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week twice last season.

A PERFORMER BETWEEN THE PIPES
– Junior goalie John Kemp ranks first nationally in goals-against average (5.54) and save percentage (.663). He also ranks 12th in saves per game (11.0).
– Kemp made a career-high 18 saves in the 4-3 overtime setback to Penn State (Feb. 26). He has made 10 or more saves in a game five times this season.
– He finished the 2011 campaign ranked second nationally in goals-against average (6.61) and fourth in save percentage (.602).
– Kemp boasts a 21-6 (.778) career record at Notre Dame.
– Kemp is one of 82 student-athletes up for the Tewaaraton Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate lacrosse player.

IRISH GET OFFENSIVE
– The Notre Dame offense is averaging 10.8 goals in the last four games after averaging 6.7 goals in the first six contests of the season.

SPREADING THE WEALTH
– Nineteen different Notre Dame players have scored a goal this season.
– The Fighting Irish used a season-high nine goal scorers in the 13-6 win over St. John’s (April 1).
– The Irish had eight different goal scorers in wins over Denver (10-9 in 3OT), Rutgers (12-9) and Georgetown (9-7).

MARLATT MAKING AN IMPACT
– Sophomore midfielder Jim Marlatt leads the Irish in goals (14) and points (20), while his six assists are tied for the team lead. Marlatt did not play last season due to injury.
– Marlatt has a team-best five multiple-goal games this season.
– Marlatt was named the MVP of the Notre Dame-St. John’s game at the Big City Classic. Marlatt scored a game-high – and career-high – three goals in the Irish victory. All three goals came within a span of 1:19 to increase Notre Dame’s lead to five (10-5) by the 11:15 mark of the fourth quarter.

CAPTURING THE CLOSE ONES
– Notre Dame’s four true road wins this season have come by a combined five goals.
– Notre Dame has played five one-goal games this season. All five of those contests were in succession. The Irish went 4-1 in those games, including two overtime victories. Notre Dame’s lone loss this season was a 4-3 overtime setback to Penn State.
– It was the first time in program history that Notre Dame played five straight one-goal games. It also was the first time the Fighting Irish had ever captured four straight one-goal decisions.
– The 10-9 win over Denver was the first triple-overtime game in Fighting Irish history.

RANDALL A LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD FINALIST
– Notre Dame defenseman Kevin Randall is one of 10 finalists up for the 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the men’s lacrosse division. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

CONSISTENCY IN THE CAGE
– Junior John Kemp is the third straight Notre Dame goalie to receive All-America honors. Kemp was an honorable mention All-America selection by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) last season.
Scott Rodgers earned third-team All-America honors in 2009 and was an honorable mention pick in 2010. He also was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 NCAA Championship.
– Joey Kemp, John’s older brother, was a three-time All-America honoree at Notre Dame. He copped first-team honors in 2008 in addition to honorable mention accolades in 2006 and 2007.

A DEPENDABLE DEFENSE
– Over the last five seasons, the Notre Dame defense has been one of the best in the nation. The Irish are the only team in NCAA Division I to finish in the top five nationally in scoring defense in each of those five campaigns. Notre Dame produced the nation’s top defense in 2009 by allowing a program-record 6.19 goals per game. The Irish were second in 2010 (7.53) and 2011 (6.57), fourth in 2007 (6.66) and fifth in 2008 (7.04).
– Since the beginning of the 2007 season (a span of 89 games), the Irish defense has limited opponents to seven goals or fewer 62 times. Notre Dame has held foes to four goals or fewer 16 times during that stretch.
– Notre Dame has surrendered 10 goals or more in a game just 10 times since the beginning of the `07 season. The Irish have allowed more than 10 goals just once in the last 28 games.

FORMIDABLE FOES
– Notre Dame is 5-1 against teams currently in the top 25 of the RPI. There are eight teams on Notre Dame’s 2012 schedule that appear in the top 25 of the RPI. The Irish are sixth in the RPI.

HOME SWEET HOME
– Notre Dame is 38-4 (.905) at home since the beginning of the 2006 season.

CALL HIM CLUTCH
– Senior attackman Sean Rogers scored three consecutive game-winning goals earlier this season, including two overtime tallies.
– He deposited the game winner in the 10-9 triple-overtime triumph against Denver (March 18).
– Rogers also produced the overtime game winner at Hofstra (March 10) in Notre Dame’s 6-5 victory.
– He deposited the deciding goal with 4:42 left in regulation in the 6-5 win at Drexel (March 3).
– Rogers scored a career-high four goals in the 12-9 win over Rutgers (March 25).

IRISH IN THE BIG EAST
– Notre Dame has an 11-5 record all-time in BIG EAST play. The 2010 campaign marked the first season of BIG EAST men’s lacrosse and the Irish posted a 2-4 record. Notre Dame finished second in the league last season with a 5-1 mark.

PLAYING ON THE BIG STAGE
– Playing in MetLife Stadium for the Big City Classic against St. John’s was Notre Dame’s latest chance to compete in a major venue.
– The Irish opened the 2011 campaign against Duke at Everbank Field, which is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Notre Dame faced Duke in the 2011 NCAA quarterfinals at the home venue of the New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium.
– Not only did the Irish compete at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore during the 2010 final four, they also played Loyola in the facility during that season’s Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic.
– In 2009, Notre Dame played Ohio State at Ohio Stadium (The Horseshoe) in Columbus, Ohio. Two weeks prior, the Irish faced Denver at Invesco Field, which is home to the Denver Broncos.
– In 2008, Notre Dame and Denver met at Toyota Park, home to the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) and former residence of Major League Lacrosse’s Chicago Machine.
– Notre Dame and North Carolina met at the Home Depot Center, which houses the MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy, during the 2005 First Four Invitational in Carson, Calif.

FOUR IRISH PLAYERS EARN PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES
– Four members of the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team garnered preseason All-America honors from Inside Lacrosse. Junior goalie John Kemp was named to the preseason All-America third team, while seniors Kevin Randall (D) and Sean Rogers (A) along with sophomore Liam O’Connor (M/FO) were honorable mention selections.

SENIOR TRIO TO CAPTAIN IRISH DURING 2012 CAMPAIGN
– Seniors Nicholas Beattie (A), Max Pfeifer (M) and Kevin Randall (D) will serve as team captains for the Fighting Irish during the 2012 campaign. All three are first-time captains for Notre Dame.

RANDALL SELECTED IN MLL DRAFT
– Notre Dame senior defenseman Kevin Randall was selected by the Charlotte Hounds in January’s Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft. Randall was the first pick in the seventh round (49th overall selection).

A SUCCESSFUL STRETCH
– The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse program has achieved unprecedented success over the past few seasons. The Fighting Irish are 59-15 (.797) since the beginning of the 2008 season. That is the third-best winning percentage nationally during that time.
– In 2008, the Fighting Irish hosted an NCAA tournament game for the first time in program history. Notre Dame defeated Colgate 8-7 in overtime before falling to Syracuse, 11-9, in the quarterfinals. The Irish concluded the season with a 14-3 record.
– The 2009 campaign featured the Irish posting the first undefeated regular season (13-0) in program history before extending their record to a school-best 15-0 in the Great Western Lacrosse League tournament. Notre Dame fell to Maryland, 7-3, in the first round of the NCAA tournament to finish with a 15-1 mark.
– In 2010, Notre Dame reached the title game of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. The Fighting Irish fell to Duke, 6-5 in overtime, and ended the campaign with a 10-7 record.
– Last season, the Irish reached No. 1 in the national polls on April 18 for the first time in program history. Notre Dame suffered a 7-5 setback to Duke in the NCAA quarterfinals and finished with an 11-3 record.