SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 16 Fighting Irish are set to open the 2023 campaign with a home contest against San Diego State on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:00 p.m. The season opener is set to be played indoors at Loftus Sports Center. The game will be broadcast live on ACCNX.
Due to there also being a home hockey game, fans are encouraged to park in the Baseball Lot or Bulla Lot.
#16 NOTRE DAME vs. SAN DIEGO STATE
Date/Time: Friday, February 10 — 7:00 p.m.
Location: Loftus Sports Center — South Bend, Ind.
Live Stream: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDWomensLax
For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame
FOR STARTERS
- The Irish will meet up with the San Diego State Aztecs for only the second time in program history. The game will take place in the Loftus Sports Center at the University of Notre Dame.
- This matchup will be streamed on the ACCNX and live stats will be available.
- Entering the 2023 season, Kasey Choma leads the team with 57 goals, followed by Madison Ahern with 57, and Jackie Wolak with 40.
- Kelly Denes looks to build on her 100 draw controls record in a single season heading into the 2023 campaign.
- Hannah Dorney returns for her fifth year as a pivotal part of the Irish defense. She enters the season leading the team with 28 caused turnovers.
THE NOTRE DAME – SAN DIEGO STATE SERIES
- The Irish and San Diego State Aztecs will be meeting for the second time overall on Friday at Loftus Arena.
- In their previous meeting, Notre Dame defeated SDSU by a final score of 16-7 on April 21, 2018. The Irish held the Aztecs scoreless for over 30 minutes of play and used their strong defensive play to score 11 unanswered goals en route to the victory.
IN THE POLLS
- The Irish begin the 2023 campaign checking in at No. 16 in the ILWomen/IWLCA poll .
- The Irish are also ranked No. 14 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason rankings.
- Five other ACC programs are currently ranked in the Top 25 according to the IL Women/IWLCA Preseason Poll, including No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Boston College, No. 5 Syracuse, No. 11 Duke, and No. 13 Virginia.
BALANCED ATTACK
- The Irish return their top three scorers from the 2022 season in Kasey Choma (59G), Madison Ahern (57G) and Jackie Wolak (40G).
- The top scorers are joined by Kelly Denes who won 100 draw controls and tallied 14 goals of her own.
LEADERSHIP GROUP
- On Dec. 20, the Irish named three team captains for the 2023 campaign: Hannah Dorney, Kasey Choma, and Madison Ahern.
- Dorney is serving as a team captain for the second consecutive season.
ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS
- Two Irish were named Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans including Kasey Choma (First Team), Madison Ahern (HM).
- Ahern and Choma were also named Preseason All-Americans on February 3. Choma was named to the second team and Ahern to the third team.
- Kasey Choma was named to the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American squad, and was also ranked among the top 20 lacrosse players recognized as the game’s biggest difference makers checking in at #19.
- Choma and Ahern claimed silver for the USA Super Sixes team at the 2022 World Games.
100-POINT CLUB
- Three Notre Dame players enter the 2023 season with over 100 career points in Madison Ahern (153), Kasey Choma (140) and Jackie Wolak (126).
- Kasey Choma tabbed her 100th point in the 20-5 victory over Jacksonville on March 13.
- Madison Ahern tallied her 100th career point in the thrilling 12-10 victory over the ranked No. 13 Virginia Cavaliers.
- Jackie Wolak marked her 100th career point in the Irish win over Marquette.
NEWCOMERS
- The Irish welcome a seven-member freshman class as part of the 35-player roster, which includes two attackers, three midfielders, two goaltenders.
- Emma Murphy was ranked No. 5 in the IL Women Top 100 Freshman Power Rankings. Murphy capped her high school career as a member of the USA Lacrosse U18 team, a US Lacrosse All-American, an Academic All-American, and was a Under Armour All-America Senior Selection.
- Jaclyn Marszal was tabbed No. 42 in the IL Women Top 100 Freshman Power Rankings. Maszal was selected to the 2022 Under Armour All-American Senior Game and won the Under Armour Underclass All-American Tournament with the Baltimore Highlight Team in 2019.
- Maeve Dwyer, Fran Frieri, and Anna Kenney were also named to the IL Women Top 100 Freshman Power rankings in the watchlist.