Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Game 6 Preview: RV/#20 Michigan

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 2/2 Notre Dame wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule with a trip to Ann Arbor to take on RV/#20 Michigan at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 18. The game will be broadcast on B1G+.

GAME DETAILS
Location: Ann Arbor | U-M Lacrosse Stadium
Schedule: March 18 — 1 p.m. ET
TV: B1G+ ($)
Live Stats: UND.com
Twitter Updates: @NDlacrosse
For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame

THE MICHIGAN SERIES

• Saturday will be the sixth meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Michigan. The Irish lead the series 4-1.

• The two teams last met during the 2022 season, with the Irish winning at Arlotta by a final score of 12-7.

• In the win Chris Kavanagh scored a team-high three goals and added an assist while his brother Pat led the Irish attack with four assists.

• Liam Entenmann was sensational in goal, making 19 saves while allowing just seven goals.

• Notre Dame has scored at least 12 goals in every meeting with Michigan in the series and only allowed the Wolverines to reach double digits once.

THE BROTHERS KAVANAGH

Pat Kavanagh became the fourth Tewaaraton Finalist in program history in 2021 and his brother Chris joined the 2022 squad as an attackman.

• The two brothers have combined for 50 points over the first five games, Chris recording 26 (18G, 8A) and Pat totaling 24 (6G, 18A).

• Chris and Pat became the first set of ND teammates to each record eight or more points in the same game in program history, each posting eight, in the win over Cleveland State.

• The brothers have linked up on 19 goals during their career, with one assisting the other’s goal.

• The brothers also excel in the ground ball aspect of the game, combining for 31 on the season.

• Pat led the team during the 2022 season in points (64) and assists (39). He was second in goals (24), caused turnovers (12) and ground balls (39) while Chris was second in points (33) and assists (11) while tied for third in goals (22).

• In just 12 games in the 2022 season, Pat became the all-time single-season ND assist record holder with 39, breaking his own record from the 2021 season.

• Pat owns the single-game points record at ND, recording 10 points in a game twice, both against Syracuse and both coming on May 1. He recorded 10 points on May 1, 2021 with 5G & 5A and then matched his record on May 1, 2022 with 4G & 6A.

BEATING THE BEST

• The matchup against No. 20 Michigan will be Notre Dame’s fourth straight game this season against a team ranked in the top 20 in the InsideLacrosse poll.

• Notre Dame recorded a lopsided win in South Bend against No. 9 Ohio State the last time out.

• The Irish have a record of 43-38 against top 10 teams since the start of the 2010 season, including a record of 3-0 this season.

STRONG STARTS

• The Irish have wasted no time jumping on opponents early in games this season, outscoring the opposition by a combined score of 26-11 in first quarters.

• Notre Dame has scored on its first possession in four of its five games this season, with Eric Dobson firing in the first goal in three games.

• Chris Kavanagh has scored six goals in first quarters to pace the team early while Eric Dobson has added five.

FITTING RIGHT IN

• Notre Dame welcomed four transfers to the 2023 roster and each player made has made significant contributions through two games.

• Chris Fake and Chris Conlin have each earned starts as defensemen in every game this season, combining for 11 caused turnovers and 22 ground balls.

• Brian Tevlin and Jack Simmons have played major minutes in the midfield, as Simmons has five goals and two assists while Tevlin has five goals and an assist while adding 12 ground balls.

• Tevlin has also traded his short stick in for a long stick on the Irish man-down unit at times this season.

DOMINATING DEFENSE

• The Irish enter the weekend allowing just 8.2 goals per game, ranking fourth in the country.

• Notre Dame leads the ACC and ranks fifth in the country in caused turnovers per game this season, averaging 11.2.

• The Irish have recorded at least 10 caused turnovers in every game this season.

• ND recorded a season-high 14 caused turnovers in the win over No. 10/9 Ohio State.

• The Irish have allowed more than 20 shots on goal in a game just once this season.

• Senior goalie Liam Entenmann was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks following his performances in wins over No. 4 Maryland and No. 10/9 Ohio State.

SHARING IS CARING

• Notre Dame’s ball movement has been dizzying at times this season, as the Irish have dished out 47 assists this season.

• ND ranks third in the country in assists per game, averaging 9.4.

• Pat Kavanagh ranks third in the country in assists per game (3.6).

• Thirteen different players have recorded at least one assist this season.

• Pat Kavanagh is one of five players in program history to reach the 100-career assist milestone, totaling 101 in his career. The senior currently ranks fourth and is just 10 shy of breaking the ND record held by David Ulrich (110).

ATTACKING MIDFIELD DEPTH

• Despite the Kavanagh brothers earning much of the national headlines, the Irish midfield units have been very productive in 2023.

• The starting midfield trio of Eric Dobson, Quinn McCahon and Bryce Walker  have combined for 28 goals in 2023.

• Dobson leads the group with 13 goals, while McCahon has posted nine and Walker has added six.

• The second midfield has combined for 17 goals, as Reilly Gray has seven and Jack Simmons and Brian Tevlin  have five apiece.

• Notre Dame’s midfield combined for 28 of the 44 goals scored in the wins over No. 15 Georgetown, No. 4 Maryland and No. 10/9 Ohio State.

CASHING IN ON THE EMO

• Notre Dame had one of the greatest  man-up units in recent memory during the 2022 season, leading the country in efficiency.

• The Irish EMO unit cashed in on 21-of-31 chances (.677) last season.

• The Irish enter the weekedn 9-for-15 on the EMO through this season, ranking fourth in the country.

CHALLENGING SLATE AHEAD

• Notre Dame has never shied away from putting together a challenging schedule and the 2023 slate is no different.

• Of Notre Dame’s 12 regular-season opponents, eight are currently ranked in the top 20 in the USILA poll and nine in the Inside Lacrosse Top 20 polls.

CORRIGAN ALL-TIME DI PROGRAM WINS LEADER

• With the win over No. 1 Duke on April 10, 2021, Baumer Family Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Kevin Corrigan broke the NCAA record for most wins at a DI program with 311, passing Bob Shillinglaw (Delaware).

• Corrigan became just the third coach in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse history to reach the 300-win mark at a single school with the win over Marquette on April 10, 2019.

• Corrigan is one of just four active Division I coaches to reach the 300-win mark in his career.

• Corrigan has an overall record of 336-172 in his 37 seasons of coaching.

• The head coach is 326-157 in his 35 seasons at Notre Dame.

• Corrigan is the longest tenured men’s lacrosse coach at the DI level.