Aug. 22, 2016

Two former University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse All-Americans-Matt Kavanagh and Nick Ossello-helped their Denver Outlaws team claim the 2016 Major League Lacrosse championship in a 19-18 victory over the Ohio Machine Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Kavanagh contributed three goals and two assists in the title game as his squad rebounded from a seven-goal halftime deficit to score the game-winner with less than two minutes remaining in the game. The Outlaws also claimed the MLL crown in 2014.

Former Irish All-America Scott Rodgers played in goal for the top-seeded Ohio Machine.

From Rockville Centre, New York, Kavanagh is a 2016 Notre Dame graduate who finished as a four-time United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-American for the Irish (first team in 2015, second team in 2016 and 2014, honorable mention in 2013), the first Notre Dame player to accomplish that. He finished his career as Notre Dame’s second-leading all-time scorer at 225 points (122 goals, 103 assists). His 33 assists in 2014 rank as an Irish season record, as were his 75 points that year. A three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick, Kavanagh led the Irish in scoring in 2016 at 50 points.

From Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Ossello earned honorable mention All-America honors as a senior midfielder in 2015. He also competed with the Notre Dame football team in 2015, competing in six games on special teams.

Matt Kavanagh (left), Nick Ossello (right)

From Wantagh, New York, Rodgers played in goal for the Irish from 2006-10, winning third-team USILA All-America recognition in 2009 and receiving honorable mention notice in 2010. He led the Irish to the 2010 NCAA Championship title game and was selected as the Most Outstanding Player in NCAA postseason competition that year. Rodgers holds the Notre Dame single-season goals-against average record at 6.14 in 2009.

Check these links to recent pieces on Kavanagh, Ossello and Rodgers:

Kavanagh
http://www.und.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/051916aaa.html;
http://www.laxmagazine.com/mll/2016-17/news/081816_matt_kavanagh_ending_2016_where_it_began

Ossello
http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/08/nick-ossello-denver-outlaws-notre-dame/;
http://milehighsports.com/stands-sidelines-nick-ossello-denvers-poster-child-dream-come-true/

Rodgers
http://www.und.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/071816aaa.html;
http://www.laxmagazine.com/mll/2015-16/news/070716_rodgers_and_place_flourishing_in_new_roles_with_machine