Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Irish Dominate in Season Opener

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team opened the 2023 season with a dominant win over the San Diego State Aztecs, 18-2. The Fighting Irish are now 22-4 in season openers in program history.

“It’s a great start to the season. I am really proud of my team, all their preparation led to us seeing a lot of things directly from practice translate in the game and our focus was directly on  us in this game. I am proud of our girls. Our main three keys were to dominate the loose balls, which when you add up the draw controls, the ground balls, and second chance opportunities, you can check that box. We also slowed down their relentless fast break and slow break, and holding them to just two goals.” said Head Coach Chris Halfpenny.

The Irish featured 10 different goal scorers with Madison Ahern leading the way with four goals and Lilly Callahan tallied a career-high nine saves. Kelly Denes opened the season with a stellar draw control performance collecting 11, just two shy of her career high.

“What a great way to start your career as our starter,” said Halfpenny when talking about Callahan’s explosive start to the season. “It’s huge, it fuels our whole team, she did her work while she was waiting and whenever her number was called she did her job. This entire game is a reflection of everything she did with the minutes she had. We couldn’t be more proud of her.”

The first quarter opened with a goal from Mary Kelly Doherty after collecting a shot that went high from Hannah Dorney. Only 30 seconds later Kasey Choma scored the second goal for the Irish, and again thirty seconds later Jane McAvoy joined the scoring with off an assist from Jackie Wolak.

 Madison Ahern scored Notre Dame’s fourth goal after a draw controlled by Kelly Denes. With five minutes remaining in the period Alexandra McHugh drew a free-position shot and converted for a 5-0 lead. The Aztecs responded with a goal but a minute later the Irish expanded their lead with a goal from Wolak. Keeling Schlageter and Marleigh Sanders finished the scoring for the period when Sanders scored on a buzzer beater for an 8-1 lead. This goal was Sanders’ first career goal with the Irish.

The scoring for the second period opened on a woman-up situation for the Irish. Abby Maichin scored on an assist from Sanders. Ahern scored back-to-back goals giving her a hat trick with six minutes left in the quarter. Jackie Wolak capped off the scoring for the second quarter on a free position shot giving the Irish a 12-1 lead at halftime.

Coming out of the halftime break Kasey Choma took a diving shot and hit the back of the net for a 13-1 lead. The Notre Dame lead continued to grow when Kelly Denes fired a shot after dodging multiple defenders to score.The Aztecs scored their second goal of the game with just under four minutes left in the period. 

Madison Ahern opened the fourth quarter with a goal on a backhand shovel shot. McHugh took the ball on her own and beat the goalie with a shot to the low right side of the cage. This became McHugh’s first multi-goal performance of her career giving the Irish a 16-2 lead with just under seven minutes left. 

Choma had an impressive one-on-one with a defender down low, beating her for the goal and giving the Irish a 17-2 lead. Continuing to add on Kristen Shanahan added an 18th goal for the Irish. The final score gave the Irish a 18-2 victory to open the season.

The Irish return to action on February 16 when they travel to Northwestern for a 7:00 pm matchup.