The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team opened up ACC play on Saturday in Arlotta Stadium with No. 11 Duke in a 2023 title game rematch. Like last year, the Irish were in control from start to finish against the Blue Devils, earning an impressive 14-7 victory.
Duke’s only lead would come a minute into the game, as Eric Malever set up Luke Grayum on a cut from behind the goal to open scoring. Sophomore midfielder Jordan Faison and freshman midfielder Matt Jeffery rattled off the next two for the Irish, showcasing their explosiveness getting downhill before dispatching into the back of the net. After six scoreless minutes, junior midfielder Max Sloat would even the score for the Blue Devils, leaving it knotted at 2-2 after one.
In the second quarter, Notre Dame showed everyone they still belong in the inner circle of title contenders. In their best 15 minutes of the season, the Irish scored six and allowed none to take a commanding 8-2 lead into the halftime break. The run began with graduate forward Jake Taylor’s man-up goal from a tight angle left of the net. Taylor, who tallied 41 goals for Notre Dame in 2024, feasted on a historically great man-up unit that converted 67% of its opportunities last season. While that number is down at the start of 2025, Taylor remains one of the greatest threats in the country in front of goal, particularly when his team has the extra man. Senior midfielder Jalen Seymour got in on the action next after unleashing a righty cannon from the left wing. Continuing to find success down the left, graduate midfielder Devon McLane converted on an assist from senior attack Chris Kavanagh to make it 5-2. Senior midfielder Fisher Finley continued the run, the southpaw beating his man and scoring yet another goal from that favored left side of the field. At this point, the Irish were starting to feel themselves taking over. Kavanagh found a cutting Taylor who casually converted with style behind the back for his second of the day. Kavanagh would make it a hat trick of assists before the half, connecting with senior midfielder Will Angrick for Notre Dame’s sixth goal of the quarter.
The Irish kept Duke at arm’s length the rest of the game, snuffing out any semblance of an attempted run. The two teams played an even, defensive quarter in the third, splitting two goals apiece. Andrew McAdorey scored the first for the Blue Devils before Taylor responded minutes later to secure his hat trick, once again on the receiving end of a Kavanagh pass. Benn Johnston answered for Duke before senior man-up specialist Jeffery Ricciardelli scored with a minute remaining in the third, retaining the six-goal advantage for Notre Dame heading into the final frame.
McAdorey’s second of the game cut the deficit to five before the Irish shut the door with four consecutive goals in under three minutes. Taylor added style points yet again on his behind-the-back assist to Ricciardelli, who put away Notre Dame’s third goal of the day in the man advantage. Taylor finished on the doorstep just over a minute later before Kavanagh finally got in on the goal-scoring party to make it 13-5. Taylor would swipe a rebound from the Blue Devils’ netminder to cap off his five-goal performance, giving Notre Dame its largest lead of the day. Grayum and Johnston would do some window-dressing before the game finished 14-7.
The Kavanagh-Taylor duo was unstoppable all game, combining for 12 points across six goals and six assists. After holding the Blue Devils to seven goals, the Irish defense has allowed more than 10 on only one of seven occasions. Thomas Ricciardelli is a big reason why, as the junior goalkeeper recorded 10 saves with a .588 save percentage against Duke. He's managed a double-digit save total in four of his last five, finishing with a .500 save percentage or better in six of seven contests. At the face-off dot, senior draw specialist Will Lynch went 12 for 19 to help the Irish control possession for much of the game.
Head coach Kevin Corrigan’s squad will hit the road next for another ACC matchup against No. 8 Syracuse in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, April 5, with face-off set for 2 p.m. with ACC Network providing the broadcast.
