US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 8. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com throughout January and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition that mails to US Lacrosse members Feb. 1 — opening day of the 2018 college lacrosse season.

No. 6 Notre Dame

2017 Record: 9-6 (2-2 ACC)
Coach: Kevin Corrigan (30th year)

All-Time Record: 349-175
NCAA Appearances: 22
Final Fours: 5
Championships: 0

The end of Notre Dame’s 2017 season was forgettable, and coach Kevin Corrigan has zero interest in dwelling on a result he views as unconnected to this spring’s prospects.

“You just don’t start where you left off,” Corrigan said of a 16-4 loss to Denver in the NCAA quarterfinals. “Last year is last year. It’s over. We’re not continuing to worry about what happened last year. We had 13 guys graduate and 13 new guys enter the locker room. It’s a whole different place, a different group. Our record is 0-0.”

Let’s run down a few of the differences. Gone is dynamic midfielder Sergio Perkovic (23 goals, nine assists). Same goes for defenseman Garrett Epple, one of the nation’s best at his position. So is Shane Doss, who logged more than 95 percent of the minutes in goal last year for the Irish.

There’s also a lot to like about Notre Dame, so long as it can stay healthy. Mikey Wynne, who is part of an attack that returns intact, is one of the most effective finishers in the game. Even minus Perkovic, the Irish has depth in the midfield as it usually does.

And while there are unknowns on defense, the Irish’s commitment to fundamental play as a program offers a blueprint for a largely untested group to flourish this spring.

“I don’t know any reason why they couldn’t,” Corrigan said. “The guys back there are probably the most unproven group [the Irish have had in recent years], Hugh Crance being the most experienced. But it has the potential to be a great defensive group. [Long pole] John Sexton’s as good as anybody. Who do you have on that close group? Some good guys that are smart and hard-working and very sound.”

Notre Dame’s season could hinge on how well it fares at two positions with starting vacancies. Corrigan hopes to establish a deeper faceoff rotation, and senior Owen Molloy and freshman Matthew Schmidt enter the spring as the leasders in the competition to succeed Doss in goal.

“We don’t have a returning goalie, we know you have to have good goaltending,” Corrigan said. “We were not as good in the faceoff game, we know we have to get better at that. We’ll continue to work at that. We have an inexperienced defensive group, but we have guys who can contribute there. We have concerns in all kinds of areas because you always do, but nothing overriding.”

The Case For Notre Dame

Consistency is the Fighting Irish’s hallmark, and while coaches like to say every season is different, there is plenty to be said for year-in, year-out reliability. The entire starting attack is back, with Wynne entering his senior year and juniors Ryder Garnsey and Brendan Gleason also returning. Notre Dame always has options in the midfield, and its defense is usually sound even as the personnel turns over.

Then there’s the defensive midfield, where Sexton and short stick Drew Schantz are the foundation of a strong unit. If a solid goalie can emerge, the Irish will probably look a lot like they usually do — formidable.

The Case Against Notre Dame

It was no secret what ailed the Fighting Irish last season. Notre Dame won just 43.7 percent of its faceoffs, the lowest figure of any NCAA tournament team, and its inability to gain possession doomed it in the postseason against Trevor Baptiste and Denver.

Corrigan hopes a deeper set of options will help this season. Sophomore Kyle Hyland, who was expected to play a bunch last season before missing the year with injury, should be in the mix. John Travisano Jr. (61-for-129, 47.3 percent) is back after working as a secondary option last year. Freshman Jacob Frane could also contribute, while long pole Charles Leonard could factor in as a change of pace.

Path to the Playoffs

You never have to worry about the Fighting Irish facing a soft schedule, and this year is no exception. In addition to four conference games, Notre Dame will meet Denver, Marquette, Maryland and Ohio State in high-profile tests outside the ACC. It’s a schedule built to land the Fighting Irish a home game in the postseason so long as they approach double-digit victories. Notre Dame has hosted an NCAA tournament game in seven consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the country. With a steady defense and options at attack, look for the Irish to extend that run this spring.

Players To Watch

Ryder Garnsey, A, Jr.
20 G, 23 A

Garnsey pondered a transfer after last season but ultimately decided to remain in South Bend. Last year saw him add greater responsibilities as a feeder, and if he is more comfortable in that role this spring it should allow the Fighting Irish’s offense to function more smoothly.

John Sexton, LSM, Sr.
46 GB, 23 CT

Sexton already has earned first team (2017) and second team (2016) All-America honors over the last two seasons to establish himself as the college game’s top long pole. The presence of one of another All-America contender on the rope unit (junior short stick Drew Schantz) only adds to Sexton’s nifty effectiveness.

Mikey Wynne, A, Sr.
33 G, 4 A

The Irish’s leader in goals scored in back-to-back seasons, Wynne enters his final college year with 103 career goals (eighth in school history). His presence also creates opportunities for teammates because of how mindful defenses must be when he is on the field, and he is well-positioned to be one of the top players in the ACC, if not the country, as a senior.

National Rankings

Power Ratings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Defense
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goalkeeping
⭐⭐⭐

Faceoff
⭐⭐⭐

11

Consecutive seasons with at least 10 victories, a streak that came to an end last year for Notre Dame as it went 9-6. The Fighting Irish still rank second nationally in consecutive seasons with a .500 or better record with 15; Maryland is first with 92.

5-Year Trend
Faceoff Percentage

Coach Confidential
Kevin Corrigan

“I think we have a lot of good players. That’s probably the strength — across the board, at every position. When you look at it, with seven positions … I think we have a depth of talent at every one of those.”

Enemy Lines
Rival Coaches

"The attack is back intact, though how awkward was it for Ryder Garnsey in the locker room on the first day of the fall?  It was quite obvious that if the ACC transfer rules had not taken a year of eligibility from him, Ryder was ready to exchange his Indiana mailing address for a central Virginia residency.  Mikey Wynne and Brendan Gleason are very good goal scorers.  The Gerry Byrne defensive system churns out great units, and there is a lot back this year with Hugh Crance and the best being John Sexton.  Throw in elite SSDM Drew Schantz, and it will be tough to earn many great looks at the goal.  Speaking of which, who is in goal for the Irish this spring?  Can they turn to a freshman:  Matt Schmidt? ... Return a lot and have a great class that just arrived. ... Always great. Very talented young group. ... Consistent.  I know they lose Sergio but they always figure out a way to win. ... Last year, everybody had a clunker. Maryland probably didn’t, and they were the best team and deserved to win. Everybody else had a clunker. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, that was in that quarterfinal game. …They have good players, and there’s no way you take one game and all the sudden that’s a trend. It’s not a trend."