Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Irish Open Conference Play At Virginia On Saturday

March 17, 2017

By Robby Hamman

Notre Dame Game Notes

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — No. 3/2 Notre Dame takes on No. 13/12 Virginia in the team’s ACC opener at Klöckner Stadium on Saturday, March 18. The game will wrap up the weeklong spring break trip for the Irish. The game will air live on ESPNU at 6 p.m.

Game Details

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia | Klöckner Stadium
Schedule: Saturday, March 18 — 6 p.m. ET at Virginia
TV: ESPNU
Live Stats:
Twitter Updates: @NDlacrosse

Irish In The ACC

  • Notre Dame has a combined record of 9-4 in its three seasons of ACC play.

  • The Irish went a perfect 4-0 in 2015 to win its first regular season conference title and followed up with a record of 3-1 in 2016 to claim a share of the regular season championship.

  • Notre Dame has not dropped a conference opener since joining the ACC, posting a mark of 3-0.

The Virginia Series

  • Saturday will be the 11th meeting all time between Notre Dame and Virginia. The Irish and Cavaliers are tied at 5-5 in the series.

  • The last installment between the two sides came last season at Notre Dame. The Irish prevailed in an 8-7 overtime victory.

  • The Irish have won each of the last four matchups with Virginia, including all three meetings as ACC opponents.

Garnsey Among Nation’s Elite

  • Notre Dame sophomore Ryder Garnsey has been exceptional as a playmaker for the Irish in 2017, leading the team with 20 points off 11 goals and nine assists through four games.

  • The attackman ranks eighth nationally in points per game with an average of 5.0, which is the best mark by any player in the ACC.

  • Garnsey ranks in the top 20 in the country in both assists per game (14th – 2.25) and goals per game (18th – 2.75).

Dominating Defense

  • Notre Dame has given up just 7.5 goals per game, ranking first in the ACC and 10th in the country for scoring defense.

  • The Irish allowed just four goals to Maryland, who’s previous low for the 2017 season was 12 in a win over Yale.

  • The Irish held the Terrapins scoreless in the first quarter, marking the second scoreless opening 15 minutes of the season.

  • The four goals were the fewest Notre Dame has allowed in a game since defeating Maryland in 2016 by a final score of 9-4 in California.

  • The Irish average 8.25 caused turnovers per game, ranking 13th in the nation.

Gleason And Costabile Stepping Up On Offensive End

  • Sophomore Brendan Gleason and freshman Bryan Costabile have played major roles in Notre Dame’s success through the opening four games of the season.

  • Gleason and Costabile are tied for third on the team in goals scored with five apiece.

  • Costabile has scored at least one goal in all four of Notre Dame’s games during his debut season.

— ND —

The University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team pursues excellence on and off the field through the three pillars in which the program is built: Character, Culture & Community. These three foundational values guide the promise of the program, which is to provide its student-athletes with the most compelling and enriching experience in all of college athletics. Through academics, competition, service and travel, the program aims to immerse its players in situations that enhance their student-athlete experience to help them become the people, students and teammates they aspire to be.

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Robby Hamman joined Fighting Irish Media as athletics communications assistant director in September 2016, coordinating efforts for the volleyball and men’s lacrosse program. Hamman is a 2010 graduate of Bethel College, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in sport management and business administration, and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Defiance College in 2013.