NOTRE DAME, Ind. – After a low-scoring first half, the No. 6/6 Notre Dame (2-0) attack erupted for seven goals in the third quarter to blow the game open at 11-4 en route to the 13-5 win over No. 18/17 Richmond on Sunday afternoon at Arlotta Stadium.
The Irish attack was led by freshman Pat Kavanagh, who scored his second hat trick in as many career games, finishing with four goals and an assist for a game-high five points. Sophomore Griffin Westlin notched the first hat trick of his career with three goals and an assist.
Notre Dame’s defense was stingy all afternoon, allowing just five goals in the win. The defense recorded 10 caused turnovers and allowed just 13 shots on target over the 60 minutes. Senior Jack Kielty led the unit with three caused turnovers. Freshman goalie Liam Entenmann posted eight saves in cage.
How It Happened
The defensive units for both sides were the stars of the first half, as the Irish took a 4-2 lead into the halftime break. Westlin came up with a huge goal right before the break, finding the back of the net with one second left to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.
The Irish attack exploded for seven goals in the third quarter, putting Notre Dame in complete control of the game. The two sides traded goals over the first 10 minutes of the third, moving the score to 6-4. Notre Dame then ended the period in a flurry, scoring five goals over the last five minutes to take an 11-4 lead into the fourth.
Notre Dame then scored the first two goals of the fourth to go on top 13-4 before Richmond scored the final goal of the game in the last minute to make the final score 13-5.
Notre Dame Player Of The Game
Senior FOGO Charlie Leonard was nearly perfect at the X, winning 19-of-20 faceoffs to help the Irish control the game. The 19 wins are just one shy of his career record. The senior also scooped up 10 ground balls and added an assist to complete his impressive performance.
Stat Of The Game
Notre Dame outshot the Spiders 57-26 for the game and 35-13 for shots on target.
Notre Dame Notes
- With the win, the Irish are now 2-1 against the Spiders in the series and 2-0 when playing at home.
- The Irish improve to 37-6 in games played in the month of February during Corrigan’s tenure.
- With giving up just five goals in the win, the Irish are allowing just six goals per game.
- Richmond had scored at least 12 goals in its previous three games prior to Notre Dame holding it to five.
- Seven players combined to score Notre Dame’s 13 goals in the win.
- Kavanagh (4) and Westlin (3) both scored career high goals.
- Westlin also recorded career highs in points (4) and ground balls (5).
Up Next
The Irish hit the road for the first time this season, traveling east to face No. 4/4 Maryland at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 29 in College Park, Maryland. The game will be broadcast on BTN+.
— ND —
The University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team pursues excellence on and off the field through the three pillars in which the program is built: Character, Culture & Community. These three foundational values guide the promise of the program, which is to provide its student-athletes with the most compelling and enriching experience in all of college athletics. Through academics, competition, service and travel, the program aims to immerse its players in situations that enhance their student-athlete experience to help them become the people, students and teammates they aspire to be.
Follow the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team on social media and the Internet …
Click here to enter ND Lacrosse Experience
Click here to follow ND Lacrosse on Twitter
Click here to like ND Lacrosse on Facebook
Click here to subscribe to NDLaxTV YouTube Channel
Click here to read the latest news on ND Lacrosse