Notre Dame attackman Ryder Garnsey, the team’s top scorer and an honorable mention All-American as a sophomore, was granted a release from the university Friday and could land at ACC rival Virginia, sources have told US Lacrosse Magazine.
Garnsey, who led the Irish with 43 points and 23 assists this season, would have to sit out a year if he transfers within the conference. He was the ACC Freshman of the Year playing alongside former Tewaaraton finalist Matt Kavanagh in 2016 and emerged as the focal point of the Notre Dame attack in 2017.
According to the sources, Garnsey’s preferred destination is Charlottesville, provided he can carry his academic credits with him from Notre Dame to Virginia. He has two years of NCAA eligibility remaining.
Garnsey’s most memorable moment this season came at Virginia. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime, lifting the Irish to an 11-10 victory March 18 over the Cavaliers, and then he went viral with his FIFA-inspired “dead fish” celebration.
Unreal celly by Ryder Garnsey a.k.a. The Maestro (cc: @BarstoolJordie) pic.twitter.com/fsi9Th4elw
— Joe Keegan (@joekeegs) March 19, 2017
Virginia, which is 1-19 in ACC play over the last five seasons, finished 8-7 overall in its first season under head coach Lars Tiffany. After missing the NCAA tournament for the second straight year, the Cavaliers will look to rebuild around promising young midfielders Ryan Conrad and Dox Aitken, plus attackman Michael Kraus, the ACC Freshman of the Year. Kraus led the Cavaliers with 34 goals and 56 points and was an honorable mention All-American. All three players would still be in the fold if Garnsey joined the team in 2019. Virginia also will add to the mix Garnet Valley (Pa.) midfielder Matt Moore, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2017, according to Recruiting Rundown.
Garnsey’s departure leaves Notre Dame perilously thin at the attack position beyond rising senior Mikey Wynne, who will be a fourth-year starter and led the Irish with 33 goals this season. Help is on the way with incoming freshman Connor Morin out of Morristown-Beard (N.J.), ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2017. Notre Dame finished 9-6, falling to Denver in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Garnsey is the second high-profile player on the move this month. Inside Lacrosse reported June 13 that Georgetown’s Peter Conley, also an honorable mention All-American, has been accepted to graduate school at Duke and will join the Blue Devils prior to the 2018 season.