No. 3 Notre Dame ended the 2023 DI men’s lacrosse national championship game on a 6-2 scoring run to beat No. 1 Duke, 13-9.
This title is the first in program history for Notre Dame. They had lost their previous two trips to the championship game in 2010 and 2014.
The defense and goaltending was the story for the Fighting Irish. They allowed a Duke goal 35 seconds into the first quarter, and didn’t allow another Blue Devil score until the third quarter. Then, in the championship-deciding fourth quarter, the Notre Dame defense held Duke’s prolific offense to just two goals. Liam Entenmann was outstanding for Notre Dame. He made 18 saves in goal for the Fighting Irish, a season-high tally for the senior netminder.
Six players scored exactly two goals for Notre Dame in the win, not including Pat Kavanagh, who was held scoreless but did manage an assist.
Notre Dame held Duke’s two leading scorers, Brennan O’Neill and Dyson Williams, to just one goal each. A fitting end to the season for Notre dame’s top-ten scoring defense.