Jan. 29, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team begins the 2013 campaign ranked third in both the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches’ Poll.
Defending national champion Loyola and 2012 NCAA runner-up Maryland are ranked first and second, respectively, in both polls. The Fighting Irish received two first-place votes in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse rankings.
Last week, Notre Dame was selected as the favorite to win the 2013 BIG EAST men’s lacrosse championship in a poll by the league’s seven head coaches. Fighting Irish senior goalie John Kemp was chosen as the league’s co-defensive player of the year.
Notre Dame had five players named to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. Joining Kemp as a unanimous choice were his teammates Jim Marlatt (Jr./M) and Matt Miller (Sr./D). Sean Rogers (Sr./A) and Westy Hopkins (Jr./A) also appeared on the 15-man squad. Notre Dame’s five selections were the most of any school.
Kemp, Marlatt and Miller in December were named preseason All-Americans by the Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook. Kemp was selected to the first team, while Marlatt and Miller were second and third team picks, respectively.
Notre Dame will open its 2013 campaign Feb. 16 at Duke. The Blue Devils are one of seven 2013 Fighting Irish opponents ranked in both the Nike/Inside Lacrosse and USILA polls. Duke is fourth according to the Nike/Inside Lacrosse rankings and sixth in the USILA poll. North Carolina (#7/4), Denver (#8/9), Syracuse (#12/13), Penn State (#15/15), Hofstra (#17/20) and Ohio State (#20/19) are the other Irish foes that are ranked.
The Fighting Irish garnered yet another top-five national ranking as they appear at No. 4 in the Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll.
Notre Dame went 13-3 last season and won the BIG EAST regular-season title with a 6-0 league record. The Irish topped Yale, 13-7, in the first round of the NCAA Championship before downing Virginia, 12-10, in the quarterfinals. Notre Dame fell to Loyola, 7-5, in the semifinals. It was Notre Dame’s second national semifinal appearance in the past three seasons.
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