Syracuse Lacrosse Faces Notre Dame in High-Stakes Showdown

Syracuse, N.Y. — The No. 7 Syracuse men’s lacrosse team will host No. 5 Notre Dame in a critical Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup this Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome. Scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT, the game will be broadcast on ACC Network.

Both teams enter the game with stellar records: Syracuse at 8-2 and the Irish at 5-2. Syracuse is riding a five-game winning streak, matching their longest run under coach Gary Gait. Meanwhile, Notre Dame boasts a robust history against Syracuse, winning their last seven encounters and holding a 11-10 advantage in the all-time series.

The matchup features two of the top scoring offenses in college lacrosse, each eager to assert dominance early. Syracuse seeks to leverage its impressive scoring, averaging 40 goals in the last four games, while Notre Dame aims to capitalize on its defensive prowess, allowing only two opposing teams to surpass double digits this season.

Syracuse’s strong offensive lineup, led by stars like Joey Spallina and Sam English, will aim to break through Notre Dame’s formidable defense, which has become a hallmark of their play style. ”Every game counts right now, and we need to maintain this momentum,” said Spallina, who has played a crucial role in the team’s success.

Notre Dame, however, will miss standout players from their previous national championship squad, including Tewaaraton Award finalist Liam Entenmann, but still fields an impressive group. Chris Kavanagh leads the Irish with 35 points—20 goals and 15 assists—while Jake Taylor has added 21 goals, making them key players to watch.

As Syracuse enters the contest at home, the JMA Wireless Dome is expected to be filled to capacity with fans, eager to witness this pivotal clash. “This is an event we all look forward to,” said Syracuse goalie Jimmy McCool. “Playing in front of big crowds always pushes us to perform.”

Statistics indicate that the first quarter will be vital, as Syracuse has outscored opponents 44-22 in the opening frame. In contrast, Notre Dame has been even more dominant, outscoring teams 34-14 in the first quarter. “We know getting an early lead is important,” said coach Gait. “That’s something we’ll focus on from the very first faceoff.”

Syracuse will start Payton Anderson, who impressed last week with two goals in his debut against Virginia, alongside Spallina and Owen Hiltz in attack. Overall, the Orange’s roster reflects depth and talent, essential in this high-stakes encounter.

In addition to the excitement of the game, the matchup represents one of the season’s most significant to-date, as both teams eye opportunities for postseason advantages. The outcome could set the tone for the remaining schedule, which for Syracuse includes matches against other ranked opponents, including No. 1 Cornell and No. 8 North Carolina in the upcoming weeks.

The clash on Saturday will be a true test of strength, skill, and determination as two of the nation’s elite lacrosse programs collide at the JMA Wireless Dome.