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Halfpenny, No. 10 Irish Prepared to Face Wolverines

Feb. 17, 2017

By Megan Golden

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The No. 10 University of Notre Dame travels to Michigan to play its first road game of the regular season at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

With the forecast calling for 60 degrees and sunny, the Irish will engage in their first outdoor game action since an exhibition game against Team USA at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Notre Dame, which is scheduled to host the second half of its home slate outside at Arlotta Stadium, will look to capitalize on the time outdoors, adjusting to the temperature and competing on a different playing surface.

“It’ll be fun,” Irish head coach Christine Halfpenny said. “This group has been fun to travel with in the fall and in our preseason. They’re very low-drama, very flexible, good travelers. We have great leadership, and everybody’s just excited.”

WHAT: No. 10 Notre Dame at Michigan
WHEN: Saturday, February 18 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
LIVESTREAM: http://www.mgoblue.com/collegesportslive/?media=548804

Halfpenny Reaches Century Mark

Notre Dame’s game on Saturday will be Halfpenny’s 100th as head coach of the Fighting Irish. She has accumulated a 63-36 record (.636) overall in 99 contests over the past five-plus seasons.

In just five years, Halfpenny has taken the Irish to five consecutive NCAA Tournaments. She has coached six Irish All-Americans, including current assistant coach Maggie Smith, Maggie Tamasitis, Barbara Sullivan, Alex Dalton, Cortney Fortunato and Casey Pearsall.

Battle in the Midwest

Notre Dame is 5-4 against the Big Ten since the start of the 2015 season. After losing to No. 9 Northwestern by one goal to open the season, the Irish have two more opportunities against the Big Ten. In addition to the Wolverines, Notre Dame is scheduled to play Ohio State at 7 p.m. ET on March 7.

Notre Dame will play two more non-conference games — at Michigan and at Elon — before beginning Atlantic Coast Conference play at Duke on February 26.

“We’re continuing to battle for the crown in the midwest, so we need to work our way through these Big Ten opponents,” Halfpenny said.

Series History

Saturday’s game marks just the second matchup between Notre Dame and Michigan and the first in Ann Arbor. The Irish were victorious in their last meeting with the Wolverines, coming out on top, 21-12, at Arlotta Stadium on April 12, 2015.

To make the relatively new rivalry game even better, Notre Dame and Michigan will square off at Michigan Stadium.

“I’m excited about it,” Halfpenny said. “Everybody doesn’t get to say that they’ve played in the Big House, and I think that’s really cool.

“Michigan is a very talented team, very athletic, very physical. They have great speed, great draw controllers. They have some very serious weapons on offense.”

Game Coverage

Saturday’s game will be streamed live by visiting http://www.mgoblue.com/collegesportslive/?media=548804. For a closer, behind-the-scenes look at the Irish women’s lacrosse program, follow @NDWomensLax on Twitter.

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Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse and cross country/track and field programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.