March 3, 2017
By Megan Golden
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Riding its longest winning streak since 2013, the No. 7 University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team returns home to face No. 20 Louisville at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday at Arlotta Stadium.
The Irish (6-1) have gone 1-1 against ranked opponents and are scheduled to face five additional ranked teams, including the Cardinals (6-1). Notre Dame will look to win its first game of the season at Arlotta after opening 3-1 at Loftus Sports Center in its first four home games.
WHAT: No. 20 Louisville vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 3 p.m. ET
WHERE: Arlotta Stadium
LIVE STREAM: ACC Network Extra/WatchESPN
History Versus Louisville
Notre Dame owns a 7-2 record all-time against the Cardinals. The Irish are 3-1 versus Louisville at home.
The Irish and Cardinals last met in the first round of the ACC Tournament on April 28, 2016, when Notre Dame beat then-No. 8 Louisville, 12-10. The Irish had previously lost to the Cardinals on the road, 10-9, in overtime, on March 5, 2016.
Fantastic February
The Irish closed the month of February with a come-from-behind victory at Duke to finish the month with a 6-1 record.
Notre Dame has had one loss or fewer in February in five of the last six seasons. The Irish went 2-2 to open the season in 2014, facing three ranked teams and falling to No. 17 Boston College and No. 1 North Carolina.
Second-Half Success
Notre Dame has outscored opponents, 60-22, in the second half this season. In the past four games, the Irish have won 36 draw controls in the second half, compared to 27 in the first half. The team has collected 22 second-half saves, compared to 19 in the first half.
Player of the Week Honors
Senior Alex Dalton was named Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the week on Tuesday.
Dalton collected a career-high eight ground balls in Notre Dame’s 16-7 win at Elon on Thursday. She also tallied a season-high two points on a goal and an assist, and she added three caused turnovers.
Dalton made the start against Duke on Sunday, recording six draw controls, two caused turnovers and one ground ball.
Live Coverage
The game will be broadcast by the ACC Network Extra/WatchESPN. For a closer, behind-the-scenes look at the Irish women’s lacrosse program, follow @NDWomensLax on Twitter.
Notes
- Cortney Fortunato ranks second in the ACC with an average of 3.86 goals per game and 5.00 points per game.
- Samantha Lynch ranks seventh in the ACC in goals per game with 3.00.
- Notre Dame’s 12.71 caused turnovers per game are most in the ACC and sixth-most in the country.
- The Irish average 16.57 goals, which is second-most in the conference and sixth-most in the nation.
–ND–
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.