Preview and Prediction as No. 2 Maryland men's lacrosse looks for revenge vs. No. 1 Notre Dame
Bobby Dodd Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta plays host to a match-up of the two top-ranked teams in the nation. Notre Dame soundly defeated the Terrapins in last season's NCAA Championship, but the Terps have been on fire.
Men's Lacrosse – Game 5, No. 1 Notre Dame, at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Saturday at 1:00 PM
Season Records: #2 Maryland (4-0), #1 Notre Dame (3-0)
Series Record: 9-9
Last Meeting: 2024, 15-5 Notre Dame, NCAA Championship
Media: ACCN
Stats: HERE (https://umterps.com/sidearmstats/mlax/summary)
Quick Preview
Bobby Dodd Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta plays host to a match-up of the two top-ranked teams in the nation. Notre Dame soundly defeated the Terrapins in last season's NCAA Championship but come into this early season tilt looking different than its past two title teams. Graduation took a toll on Notre Dame's depth, but the Irish return several All-American caliber players. Despite being ranked second in the nation and already accumulating two Top 5 wins this season, the Terps have developed an underdog mentality that have given them an edge.
The Opponent
Gone are familiar names among the Irish players. No Entenmann. No Dobson. No Colin. No Napolitano. No Kavanagh, at least Patrick.
Chris Kavanagh (9g, 8a) does return as the Tewaaraton frontrunner, the award in which his brother won last season. Kavanagh has developed his game from first being an off-ball finisher, to then a shooter, to then a dodger, and now to a complete player who can also facilitate. Jake Taylor (10g), a sixth-year crease attackman, has the type of off-ball awareness and finishing skills that make for highlight reel goals. Freshman and highly ranked recruit Brady Pokorny (3g, 6a) joins the starting attack unit and benefits from the gravitational pull of Taylor in the crease and Kavanagh's dazzling playmaking.
What differentiated Notre Dame last season was the ability to run waves of athletic midfielders at defenses. While still deep and talented, graduation has thinned the Irish midfield and forced less relied upon players to now take on bigger roles.
The Irish first midfield line contains knowns: fifth-year senior Devon McLane (3g, 1a), DMV-native Will Angrick (5g, 3a), and Max Busenkell (3g, 2a). Those three midfielders accounted for 12 combined points over two games last season against the Terps. All three are savvy dodgers who can shoot with either hand.
The Irish midfield received a boost last week against Georgetown when Jordan Faison (1g) returned to the lacrosse team after starring at wide receiver on the Irish's national runner up in football. Faison accumulated six combined points in the two games last season against the Terps and has legitimate NFL athleticism. Jeff Ricciardelli (6g, 1a) can bounce between attack and midfield, as can Will Maheras (2g, 4a). Seniors Fisher Finley (3g, 1a) and Jalen Seymour (4g) both had coming out parties in the national title game against the Terps.
This offensive firepower has the Irish sitting atop Lacrosse Reference's adjusted offensive efficiency ratings at an absurd 48.6 percent.
Where the Irish trail last season's juggernaut is on the defensive end. Shawn Lyght proved as a freshman last season that he might be the toughest on-ball close defender in the nation. Will Gallagher moves into the starting rotation this season and is also joined by a new starter in Nate Schwitzenberg. All three defenders appear as physical clones of each other in terms of size and athleticism. Right now, however, the Irish close defense lacks an organizer.
The Irish defensive midfield returns several pieces but might not have the overall depth of last season's unit. Will Donovan (1g, 5gb) steps into the top LSM role. While not the biggest player, Donovan is athletic and savvy. Greg Campsi transferred in as a graduate student from Harvard and mans another LSM spot. Christian Alacqua is an All-American caliber short stick defender, while Ben Ramsey (1a, 7gb) was a first-team All-American last season. Tyler Buchner, a Cleveland State transfer two seasons ago, gained valuable experience last season. Questions remain about the remaining short stick defenders.
The Irish split goaltending duties for the first two games of the season, blowout wins against Marquette and Cleveland State. In last week's win against Georgetown, Thomas Ricciardelli (7.7ga, 60 percent) went the distance.
Unlike the Irish offense, the Irish defense, despite the soft non-conference schedule to date, comes in at 36th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per Lacrosse Reference.
The Irish return both FOGOs in Will Lynch (16gb, 62 percent) and Colin Hagstrom (2g, 9gb, 59 percent).
Inside the Match-Up
The Irish offense will move Kavanagh around quite a bit. When he inverts up top, he can get over the top from the wings with either hand and shoot on the run. In fact, much of the Irish offense begins with midfielders dodging from the wings to the middle. Expect Will Schaller to cover Kavanagh.
Colin Burlace will likely play off-ball on Taylor, who punishes opponents for ball watching. That will leave Jackson Canfield to cover the freshman Pokorny or when Ricciardelli comes in at attack.
So far through four games, the Maryland defensive midfield has been perhaps the best unit in the country. Notre Dame isn't as big in the midfield this season but still has multiple midfielders who can run and shoot. McLane and Faison will likely draw LSM coverage whenever they're on the field.
Notre Dame has been turnover prone through three games, and its clearing has been below average.
When the Terps have the ball, Lyght will likely take the physical match-up against Eric Spanos. Last week against Princeton, Spanos had few opportunities to dodge, as the Tigers focused their game plan on containing him. The Princeton game will prepare the Terps well for Notre Dame in that Notre Dame also likes to press out all over the field. Notre Dame gave up goal after goal to Georgetown on defensive breakdowns in the crease. This is the type of game where Daniel Kelly should have several opportunities to finish in close.
Last season, Lyght drew the match-up with Braden Erksa, but Erksa might draw one of Notre Dame's new close defenders. If Erksa doesn't draw Lyght, whose physicality affected Erksa last year, Erksa might have more runway to initiate dodges.
The Irish do have three very good short stick defenders, but the depth behind Ramsey, Buchner, and Alacqua is unproven. The Terps through four games have run at least eight regular midfielders and have worn down shallow defensive midfielders. Again, the Princeton game will have prepared the Terps for what they'll likely see against the Irish defensive midfield. The Irish do not like to give midfielders running starts and will press out far from the goal.
The Terps have flexibility in their midfield. While Noah Armitage and Jack Dowd did not play last week against Princeton, as the Terps inserted more athleticism with Aiden Aitken, Armitage's and Dowd's size could pose problems for the Irish defensive midfield. Moreover, Notre Dame has taken 10 penalties through three games, and both Armitage and Dowd should have chances on the man-up.
Statistically, the Terps FOGO battery of Shea Keether (67 percent) and Sean Creter (51 percent) ranks sixth in the nation compared to Notre Dame at eighth, per Lacrosse Reference. Notre Dame, however, averages five more possessions a game than do the Terps. Face-off and wing play – Georgetown dominated Notre Dame in ground balls – will be a key factor to watch in this game.
The Prediction
Notre Dame and Maryland have combined to win the last three national titles. The programs have elite coaches and players. Oddsmakers peg the Irish as 2.5 goal favorites, which, given the results of the last two meeting, seems low; but given how each team is playing right now, seems high. Both teams will run waves of midfielders at the defenses. The Terps come in more battle tested, but Notre Dame is king of college lacrosse. To be the man, you have to beat the man. Until proven otherwise, Notre Dame gets the nod, and the Terps have a chance to make yet another statement.
IMS prediction: Notre Dame 12-11.
