After a 2023 season when the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team achieved the ultimate goal, a national championship, the team entered the 2024 season with the opportunity of becoming back-to-back national champions. The last time a team won back-to-back championships was the 2019 and 2021 Virginia team, (a championship was not played in 2020 due to COVID). Playing in the ACC with a tough regular season schedule and the challenge that any postseason tournament presents will make this a difficult feat. One key to the Irish repeating is the players that have returned for a fifth year. Attackmen, Pat Kavanagh and Jake Taylor and goalie Liam Entenmann lead that group of grad students. With big contributions already from some new additions to the roster, the Irish have gotten off to a hot start. So far they have played two games this season against Cleveland State (won, 25-3) and at Marquette (won, 21-8). While these scores are historically dominant, it is early in the season and the games will only get more competitive as the season moves to conference play. On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Irish will host the Georgetown Hoyas at Arlotta Stadium, before facing a big challenge from #4 Maryland on March 3. Later in the season, the Irish will have to travel to #2 Duke, as well as #3 Virginia for the final game of the regular season.
The dominance of the ACC in men’s lacrosse gives the Irish a tough path to repeat. Losses to Virginia and Duke did not stop them from a championship in 2023, as Notre Dame was able to avenge losses to both schools on NCAA Championship Weekend in Philadelphia. This proved the adage that anything can happen as long as you make the tournament.
The first two games of the season saw the Irish score a combined 46 goals to their opponents 11. Leading the offense for the Irish is Chris Kavanagh, who combined for seven goals and five assists over the two games, leaving him tied for the most points (12) on the team with older brother Pat, who has two goals and ten assists. On the defensive side of the ball Liam Entenmann is holding strong in goal, earning himself a .545 save percentage. Another player that has made an immediate impact is freshman dual athlete Jordan Faison. After a stellar first season as wide receiver for the Irish football team, including being named MVP of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, Faison has transitioned smoothly into his spring sport at the midfield role. In his first game, he scored three goals, the most by an Irish player in their debut game since 2000. He then scored two more in the Irish victory at Marquette. Where the Irish were notably not strong during the 2023 season was at the faceoff dot. Currently, they hold a respectable .557 face off win average. Though the faceoff dot was not the greatest strength for the Irish last year, they still knew how to respond and win games. In order for the Irish to win back-to-back championships, consistency at the dot and defensively will be vital to the success of the team. With five more opportunities to watch the defending national champions play locally, make your plans now to catch a game!
