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Notre Dame Lacrosse 2025 Preview

The 2024 Notre Dame Lacrosse season was one for the books coming off their 2023 national championship run. The Irish came out swinging with dominant wins in their out-of-conference matchups. A crushing 25-3 victory over Cleveland State to open the season set the tone, and they followed it up by dismantling Marquette on the road, 21-8. Things were looking great until a heartbreaking overtime loss to Georgetown at home put a little dent in their early momentum. Many people thought that this would be the end of Notre Dame as there would be more losses to follow. They rebounded quickly with a big 14-9 win over Maryland, another ranked team, showing they were still a force to be reckoned with.

Even though many people counted the Irish out, maybe the loss against Georgetown showed the teams morality which motivated the team to hit its stride. Wins against tough opponents like Syracuse and Michigan showed their depth, and their road victory against Duke was a statement. A close game with Cornell showed just hot clutch Notre Dame could be in big moments with an 18-17 win. The Irish went undefeated in ACC play, finishing 4-0 in the conference, and their dominance carried into the postseason. They made a splash in the ACC Tournament, taking down Virginia in the semifinals and avenging their loss to Georgetown earlier in the season with a big win in the NCAA quarterfinals. By the time they were up against Maryland in the NCAA final, it was clear they were on another level. Notre Dame went on to demolish Maryland in a 15-5 victory meaning back to back titles for the Notre Dame Lacrosse program.

The team finished with an incredible 16-1 record, winning their last 14 games in a row. With six wins at home, four on the road, and a perfect record at neutral sites, they were truly unstoppable by the end of the year.

The 2024 Notre Dame Lacrosse team had standout performances across the board. Chris Kavanagh was a scoring machine, leading the team with 81 points on 44 goals and 37 assists. His brother, Pat Kavanagh, was right behind him with 80 points, showing their incredible chemistry on the field. Jake Taylor and Devon McLane chipped in with 45 points each, providing consistent offensive firepower. At the X, Will Lynch dominated with 202 faceoff wins, keeping possession in Notre Dame’s favor. In goal, Liam Entenmann was rock solid, boasting 195 saves and a strong 8.92 goals-against average, anchoring the Irish defense all season.

Several key players from Notre Dame’s 2024 roster return for the 2025 season, promising continuity and leadership. Chris Kavanagh, who led the team with 81 points last season, will bring his explosive offense back for his senior year. The loss of Pat Kavanagh is certainly going to be felt especially considering how his game directly impacted Chris. Jake Taylor, now a graduate student, adds needed veteran presence and scoring consistency. Faceoff specialist Will Lynch, a senior, will be crucial at the X, building on his 2024 dominance. Goalie Liam Entenmann’s absence will be felt, but returning goalie Alex Zepf should be able to rise to the occasion in his senior year. 

Looking ahead to the 2025 Notre Dame Lacrosse schedule, the team faces some big challenges both out-of-conference and in the ACC. They’ll open at home against Cleveland State and Marquette, two opponents they handled easily last year. The real tests start on the road at Georgetown and Maryland. The Georgetown rematch is particularly exciting after last season’s overtime thriller. Maryland will also push the Irish early in what promises to be a heavyweight showdown.

The team will then have a home game against Ohio State before road trips to Michigan and Syracuse with a home matchup against Duke in between. These games are critical for maintaining their dominance in the ACC, especially against Syracuse, a potential powerhouse. A home matchups against Virginia is set up to be must-watch, as the Cavaliers will look to challenge Notre Dame’s conference supremacy. Finally, a tough road trip to North Carolina and a home finale against Penn will close the regular season.

With several marquee matchups, both at home and on the road, 2025 looks like another thrilling season for Notre Dame Lacrosse. The team lost a lot of talent, but looks to potentially continue their run in the ACC and make another national championship game.