Notre Dame to Face Ohio State in NCAA Lacrosse Championship Opener

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 10/8 Notre Dame will meet No. 2/2 Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Lacrosse Championships on Sunday, May 11. The game is scheduled to start at noon ET at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The Fighting Irish enter the tournament as two-time defending champions, having claimed NCAA titles in 2023 and 2024 against Duke and Maryland, respectively. Notre Dame has made it to the championship game on Memorial Day four times, including the last two years, and has participated in Championship Weekends seven times since 2010.

In fact, the Irish have qualified for the NCAA Championship field in 18 out of the last 19 tournaments and reached the quarterfinals in 12 of the past 14 tournaments. Notre Dame has an overall record of 24-11 in NCAA Championship appearances, and a 29-25 record overall across its 27 trips.

This matchup marks the 50th all-time meeting between Notre Dame and Ohio State, with the Irish leading the series 36-13. Earlier this season, the Buckeyes narrowly defeated the Irish 10-9 at Arlotta Stadium. Notre Dame has claimed victory in 18 of the last 22 matchups against Ohio State.

Chris Kavanagh, a senior attackman, leads Notre Dame with 56 points this season from 33 goals and 23 assists. He ranks third in program history for career points and has made an impressive impact on the field with several record-setting performances.

The Irish defense has also been a key asset this season, allowing only 9.0 goals per game, which ranks 10th in the nation. Notable defensive players include Shawn Lyght, who was named ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and faceoff specialist Will Lynch, who has dominated the faceoff dot.

The game against Ohio State is critical for Notre Dame’s hopes of a deep tournament run. With strong performances expected from Kavanagh and the defense, the Irish will aim to leverage their championship experience and powerful play to advance past the Buckeyes.