Throw the rankings out the window.
For the second weekend in a row No. 5 Notre Dame toppled an ACC foe in dominating fashion. This time, it was No. 1 Duke that succumbed to the Fighting Irish’s suffocating defense and balanced offense.
Notre Dame’s 13-8 win, which makes Kevin Corrigan the all-time wins leader for a one program at the DI level, will shake up the Top 5 rankings and further bolster the ACC’s standing as the toughest conference in the country. While the Irish’s attack and Pat Kavanagh’s nine points against Syracuse was the story coming out of last weekend, this time their midfield led the way. The unit combined for nine goals and accounted for all of the Irish’s output in the second half, during which they outscored Duke 6-3 and gave the bench mob plenty to cheer about. Senior Morrison Mirer had a breakout performance with four goals on seven shots. Wheaton Jackoboice tallied a hat trick.
DOWN GOES NO. @NDlacrosse in command all day, stifling @DukeMLAX and take down the uneaten Blue Devils 13-8.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) April 10, 2021
Mirer: 4G pic.twitter.com/Mbe2glBiRH
After Duke’s Joe Robertson scored the first goal of the second half on an extra man opportunity to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 7-6 with 5:48 to play in the third quarter, Jackoboice answered with his ninth goal of the season.
The goal ignited a 5-0 run for the Fighting Irish that allowed them to run away with the game. Notre Dame’s No. 2 ranked defense entering the contest held Duke to its lowest scoring total since April 30, 2019. Senior Jack Kielty marked Michael Sowers for most of the game and held him scoreless. Notre Dame sophomore and USA U21 goalie Liam Entenmann made 12 saves (.600 save percentage) in the win.
Duke’s freshmen Brennan O’Neill and Jake Naso (Entenmann’s teammates on the U21 squad) offered a bright spot for the Blue Devils. O’Neill continued the torrid start to his college lacrosse career with a hat-trick. Naso won 16-of-22 face-offs, including 10-of-13 in the first half, against the intimidating senior duo of Kyle Gallagher (2-of-11) and Charlie Leonard (5-of-12).
Duke senior midfielder Nakeie Montgomery also registered three assists in the loss.
The teams will get the opportunity to square off again on April 22.
— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) April 10, 2021
Congrats Coach Corrigan on win #311 at Notre Dame to break the all-time record!#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/mHG7ElXXFp