CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Notre Dame will play for its third national title in four years in men’s lacrosse after defeating Syracuse 15-7 in an NCAA Tournament semifinal Saturday.
The second-seeded Irish (13-2) advanced to Monday’s championship game (noon, ESPN) against top-seeded Princeton (16-2), a 14-7 winner over Duke in the other semifinal.
Notre Dame led just 9-7 entering the fourth quarter but took advantage of a two-minute penalty called late in the third to double its edge.
Syracuse defender Louis D’Agostino delivered a cross-check to the head of a Notre Dame player, giving the Irish the opportunity they needed to put the Orange away. Syracuse (13-6) never scored again.
Notre Dame got a behind-the-back goal from Brady Pokorny 36 seconds into the fourth quarter for a 10-7 lead. The Irish needed only 30 more seconds to double their lead to four on a goal by Josh Yago and another 42 seconds for Luke Miller to score shortly after the penalty expired.
The Irish ended the game on a six-goal run to close out the Orange in front of an announced crowd of 24,396.
Syracuse has 11 NCAA championships (one is vacated) in men’s lacrosse, the most of any school, and the Orange reached consecutive Final Fours for the first time since 2008-09.
But the Irish have surpassed them as the country’s best program in recent years, winning national titles in 2023 and 2024. Now they have a chance to add a third in four years on Memorial Day.
The Orange haven’t played in the championship game since 2013 or won the national title since 2009.
Notre Dame’s dominance has been highlighted by relentless fundamentals and limited errors, the perfect antidote to Syracuse’s free-flowing and occasionally careless approach.
Shawn Lyght spearheaded a defensive effort that held Syracuse star Joey Spallina to just two assists. Goaltender Thomas Ricciardelli made 14 saves, and Notre Dame killed off four penalties, even tacking on a short-handed goal in an overwhelming effort.
Yago posted his second straight seven-point game with three goals and four assists, while Brock Behrman (two goals, two assists) and Will Maheras (one goal, three assists) had four points apiece and Max Busenkell and Miller both scored twice.
