The 2023 common season revenge tour completed for the Notre Dame Males’s Lacrosse group with a convincing 18-9 win in opposition to the North Carolina Tar Heels. It was the second win of the yr in opposition to UNC, each instances with the Irish simply placing away the Heels, however this time formally ending the season for Carolina. It was a becoming end to the common season for the Irish who now await their seeding within the upcoming NCAA lacrosse match.

The 2023 Notre Dame Combating Irish did nearly every part they got down to accomplish this yr within the common season. Proper off the bat we avenged three key losses from final yr in Georgetown, Maryland and Ohio State. We scored and defended at elite ranges throughout your entire season. We performed full group lacrosse at an especially excessive degree all through the spring, and as was famous within the broadcast of as we speak’s sport, the Irish handed 9 of the ten groups we beat this yr their worst lack of the season. We noticed the emergence of key gamers who have been both not on the group final yr or who’ve stepped up into extra distinguished roles this yr. We’re suffering from All-American degree play at each degree of our group, and our consistency has been available nearly each week. The one factor we didn’t do was beat Virginia, however we are able to discuss that if and when the subsequent matchup with the Cavaliers comes.

The NCAA lacrosse match choice present is on Sunday evening and the Irish will discover out if we’re are the #1, #2 or #3 seed on this yr’s match. A case could be made for Duke, Virginia and Notre Dame at any of the three positions and it will likely be a secret till the picks are introduced. If I needed to guess, and realizing how a lot the committee shouldn’t be a fan of the Irish (ie see final yr and the ridiculous seeding we obtained in 2021), I feel we can be #3 with Virginia #2 and Duke #1. It doesn’t matter what, the Irish can be internet hosting a primary spherical sport at Arlotta, greater than possible on Saturday, Might thirteenth.

There can be a lot to speak about as soon as the seedings come out, however till then, let’s take a look at this final victory and the way the Irish completed the common season on a excessive notice.

First Quarter

The Irish received out to a fast begin as we took a 4-0 lead slightly over seven minutes into the sport. UNC was whistled for a penalty on the opening face-off and the Irish made them pay with Jeffery Ricciardelli scoring on the man-up to get ND on the board. Subsequent Irish objectives got here from Eric Dobson, Jake Taylor and Brian Tevlin. The sport appeared prefer it may get out of hand, however then UNC received three consecutive objectives to get the rating to 4-3. Dobson stopped the bleeding and made it 5-3 earlier than Chris Kavanagh received his first of the day to make the rating 6-3 on the finish of the primary quarter. To notice, and he performed lights out all day, however Liam Entenmann made a key save with the Irish up 5-3. It was one other key second the place the All-American got here up big for the Irish.

Second Quarter

This was the quarter the place Notre Dame put the sport away as we scored 4 objectives whereas not permitting any objectives for UNC. Chris Kavanagh received the scoring began for the Irish to get the rating to 7-3. Then on the following faceoff, Ross Burgmaster received his first profession aim as he received a go from Will Lynch and scored on the quick break. We then noticed one other Ricciardelli man-up aim earlier than Chris Kavanagh completed the scoring with a tally to make it 10-3 Irish on the break.

Third Quarter

UNC received the primary aim of the second half to make the rating 10-4, however on the following face-off, Will Lynch made an incredible play and dislodged the ball from the UNC participant, picked up the bottom ball and took it in for his first aim of the season. Nice play by Lynch and it stopped any type of momentum the Tar Heels have been looking for. We then noticed two objectives from Chris Kavanagh making the rating 13-4 Irish and at this level the sport was out of hand. UNC received one again earlier than Pat Kavanagh scored his first of the day making the rating 14-5, then UNC received the final aim of the quarter to make it 14-6 as we headed into the ultimate fifteen minutes.

Fourth Quarter

Jake Taylor received the scoring going for the Irish as he netted the primary two objectives of the fourth to finish his hat trick and put the Irish forward 16-6. UNC scored thereafter earlier than Dobson and Ben Ramsey scored the ultimate two objectives for the Irish to make it 18-7. The Tar Heels completed off the scoring for the day with the ultimate two tallies to make the ultimate rating 18-9 Irish. Notre Dame finishes the common season with an general document of 10-2 and 4-2 within the ACC.

Some Notes and Ideas

Unsure what number of extra superlatives we’ve for the Kavanagh brothers, however the talent, expertise, and relentlessness that these two convey to the desk was on full show on Saturday afternoon. Pat completed with seven factors (1 G, 6A) and Chris completed with six factors (5G, 1A). This sport was the right showcase of Pat’s passing talents and Chris’ playmaking and ending talents. And as was talked about on the printed, Chris scored from so many various spots on the sector and he modified the angle of his launch on so lots of his pictures. He’s simply so laborious to defend and that was fully obvious as we speak.

We already talked in regards to the nice save by Entenmann with the Irish up 5-3, however he additionally made a bunch of big saves on UNC after they received their fourth aim. I feel this was undoubtedly one in every of his higher video games of the season as he was seeing the ball rather well and he made key saves all through the competition. It has been a 1st Group All-American degree season by Liam and I hope he will get acknowledged for it.

Talking of recognition, for individuals who have been studying my articles, I’ve been loudly stating that I feel Ben Ramsey is among the most improved lacrosse gamers in your entire nation. And it confirmed once more as we speak as he was all around the area inflicting turnovers, choosing up floor balls, defending UNC’s high traces and scoring one other aim. The Irish have the most effective defenses within the nation, he’s our high SSDM and he deserves All-American recognition for the job he has completed this yr.

Nice to see Eric Dobson rebound from final week’s sport in opposition to UVA. He was attacking from up high, whether or not he was long-poled or not, and he was in a position to get one other hat trick in opposition to the Heels. As we stated final week, the one group that has slowed him down this complete season has been Virginia.

No Bryce Walker once more as we speak, however we did see #5 warming up in a tweet from the ND Lacrosse twitter deal with previous to the sport. That’s excellent news, hopefully he’s nearly able to go and he can be again subsequent week for the match. And if not within the first spherical sport, hopefully he can be good to go after that as he is a vital cog in our high midfield traces. That being stated, I favored what we noticed from Jalen Seymour as we speak as continued to indicate that he has good dodging talents from up high and the the velocity to get by his defender.

Fulton Bayman received loads of run as we speak, and at first once I noticed him on the market I simply assumed we have been giving somebody a fast relaxation. However as the sport continued, we noticed much more of him as we subbed out throughout Jake Taylor and the Kavanagh brothers. It’s all the time good to provide completely different seems to be and he performed properly on the market this afternoon. He was shut on a few objectives and he was sure-handed along with his stick. Might be attention-grabbing to see if this was a one sport factor or if this continues within the match, however both method, one thing else on tape that our opponents have to account for shifting ahead.

Our man-up unit was 2-3 on the day with Jeffery Ricciardelli getting each objectives for the Irish. I actually do just like the arrange we’ve with this unit proper now as we’ve mainly a 2-2-2 look with Pat Kavanagh and Eric Dobson up high, Ricciardelli and Chris Kavanagh within the center and Griffin Westlin and Jake Taylor on the backside. Now we have so many choices as we all the time have Dobson with the possibility to hammer it from outdoors. Now we have Ricciardelli within the center and he normally will get his feed from Pat Kavanagh, and if the protection collapses on him, he hits Chris Kavanagh who’s then open for an out of doors shot. In the event that they don’t collapse, he can use his fast fingers to get off a sidearm shot (which has confirmed robust to defend). And all of this doesn’t account for skip passes that may be made to Taylor and Westlin who’re good in-close finishers. It’s an elite unit proper now and simply actually laborious to defend, as evidenced by the Irish ending second within the nation in man-up proportion.

Superior to see Will Lynch rating his first aim of the season as we speak. It was solely a matter of time earlier than it got here this yr and he performed an especially good throughout sport on Saturday. Immediately was undoubtedly the most effective Lynch has appeared for the reason that Syracuse matchup. We additionally noticed good work from Colin Hagstrom on the dot and all of this offers the Irish coaches confidence that they’ve two face-off choices as we get Might underway subsequent weekend.

Notre Dame’s transition protection was excellent as we speak. They actually did a wonderful job of stopping UNC from capitalizing in unsettled conditions, quick breaks and restarts. As we talked about how this was one thing the Irish struggled slightly bit with final week in opposition to Virginia, it was nice to see the Irish rebound fairly emphatically as we speak on this side of the sport. To notice, I feel we additionally noticed this afternoon the stark distinction in what occurs whenever you play a group with developed and skilled expertise in UVA and whenever you play a group with the younger expertise that UNC has. You can’t make any errors within the midfield in opposition to UVA as they’ll make you pay so rapidly. UNC simply was not ready to do this and whereas I feel the Irish helped dictate that, there’s nonetheless an enormous distinction in UNC and UVA.

Love what the Irish are doing on faceoffs with two lengthy poles on the wings. Whether or not Jose Boyer, Will Donovan or Ross Burgmaster, it’s working and we’re discovering success with longer poles crashing the faceoff dot. It additionally helps when you’ve gamers like Brian Tevlin and Quinn McCahon who you’ll be able to placed on the defensive finish for the faceoff; they know their positioning and what they need to be doing if the opposite group positive aspects possession.

Alex Zepf got here in to play the final little over 5 minutes of the sport and I believed he performed rather well. He made three actually good saves whereas not giving up a aim. It was a pleasant end to the sport that he introduced.

What’s Subsequent

Ever since early Might of 2022, the 2023 season for the Irish has been constructing to this time. The 2023 NCAA match seedings can be introduced tomorrow and as we’ve mentioned earlier, the Irish will discover themselves both at #1, #2 or #3. I don’t envy the choice committee, however as stated earlier, I anticipate to see the Irish ranked #3 and from there we are going to see how the remainder of the bracket seems to be. It’s a one sport season from right here on out, and whereas we are able to all take a look at the brackets and see how the trail lays out for the Irish to be taking part in on Memorial Day, what’s vital is the subsequent sport….and nothing else.

Be looking out for our subsequent article which seems to be on the general bracket, and hoping as properly to do a podcast this week the place we take a look at how the season completed and the Irish’s opening spherical matchup.

As all the time, remember to try our buddies at 18stripes for all their protection and ideas on the Irish lacrosse group as properly.

GO IRISH!