Instant recap: Notre Dame lacrosse beats Denver in NCAA men's semifinal, will defend title
Notre Dame has been one of college lacrosse's most sound and dominant teams this season, and now it looks to finish the mission.
The Fighting Irish (14-1 overall, 4-0 in ACC play) are back in the City of Brotherly Love for the NCAA men's lacrosse championship for the second consecutive season, which begins on Saturday, May 25 at 12 p.m. ET against No. 5 Denver in the semifinals at Lincoln Financial Field.
▶ LIVE UPDATES: For live scoring updates from Saturday's Notre Dame lacrosse NCAA semifinal vs. Denver, scroll down. Refresh your browser the latest
MORE: Watch Notre Dame in 2024 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship with Fubo (Free Trial)
Led by brothers Pat Kavanagh and Chris Kavanagh, the Fighting Irish advanced to the NCAA men's lacrosse tournament semifinals thanks to a 16-11 win over No. 8 Georgetown last weekend. Pat Kavanaugh, who was taken No. 6 overall in the PLL draft by the Boston Cannons, tied his career high in points (eight) against the Hoyas as he finished with five goals and three assists.
If Notre Dame is able to pull out the win against the Pioneers and then against the winner of No. 6 Virginia vs. No. 7 Maryland on Memorial Day in the national championship game, the Fighting Irish will make history by becoming just the eighth Division I lacrosse program to be crowned national champions in back-to-back consecutive seasons.
Won the battle on The Island
Up Next: Final Four in Philly#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/OWGpWeOfBX— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 21, 2024
Here's what you need to know about Notre Dame's pursuit of winning back-to-back NCAA men's lacrosse national championship titles:
Live scoring updates: Notre Dame lacrosse vs. Denver
FINAL: Notre Dame 13, Denver 6
DEVON MCLANE TAKE A BOW!
Incredible way to get his hat trick with this #SCTop10 goal! Watch on ESPN2.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/eIftXHdRPu— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
Starting to feel it 🤩
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @NDlacrossepic.twitter.com/9mMKLjZlpd— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
The Irish are HOT 🔥
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @NDlacrossepic.twitter.com/j1KNjkxgvy— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
McLANE AGAIN!
The grad student scores his 2nd of the day and we are back up by 4 at 10-6 with 10 minutes left.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/ZgRxg2tEKx— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
On our mind...💭
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @NDlacrossepic.twitter.com/H3sdG6O8sm— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
END OF THIRD: Notre Dame 9, Denver 5
🎩🎩🎩
The Irish punish the Pios for the turnover and Chris Kavanagh gets his hat trick! Watch on ESPN2.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/vuG0FTWMZj— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
How we feelin' @NDlacrosse?!
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @NDlacrossepic.twitter.com/kq8Ke0jFLY— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
GOAL IRISH!
Beautiful feed from Dobson off the dodge, as he finds McLane for his 1st of the day! Irish lead 7-5 with 9 minutes left in the 3Q.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/IQajmXYLol— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
PAT. KAV. AGAIN.
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @NDlacrossepic.twitter.com/YdRRdXbzyy— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
First half shots 📸#NCAAMLAXpic.twitter.com/rQbG3HewYr
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
END OF SECOND: Notre Dame 5, Denver 4
KAVANAGH WITH HIS 2ND!
Pat beats his man and buries his shot for the 1st goal of the half. Irish up 6-4.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/lfudmR46La— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
GOAL IRISH!
Jordan Faison beats his defender and finishes inside the far post for his first of the day. ND leads 5-3 with 4 minutes left in the half.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/oqSi2hJq9W— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
GOAL IRISH!
Bryce Walker finds Jake Taylor, who finishes in front of the crease for his 1st of the day! ND leads 4-3 with 5 minutes left in the half.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/nwgPv1uwBA— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
END OF FIRST: Notre Dame 3, Denver 1
AIR KAVANAGH!
Watch on ESPN2.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/aAkO5BmkmE— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
Kavanaghs' - 3
Denver - 1
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @NDlacrossepic.twitter.com/4tbd2lD5qS— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
GOAL IRISH!
The Irish force the TO and come up with the loose ball and Pat Kavanagh does the rest! ND up 2-1 with 7 minutes left in the 1Q.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/AuVUd7Oekv— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
GOAL IRISH!
What a feed to the opposite crease by Will Angrick to Chris Kavanagh who finishes with the quick stick. 1-1 early in the 1Q.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/pjBmkfEztw— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
DENVER BREAKS THE SILENCE 🔥
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @DU_MLAXpic.twitter.com/ytaZqnBljf— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 25, 2024
12:05 p.m.: About to start in Philadelphia
About that time. #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/xnZuRzC1Ef
— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 25, 2024
When was the last time someone repeated as national champion for men’s lacrosse?
Virginia was the last men’s lacrosse program to repeat as national champions. The Cavaliers beat Yale 13-9 in 2019 and then Maryland 17-16 in 2021.
Note: The 2020 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How many times has there been back-to-back champions in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament?
If Notre Dame is able to put together two wins this weekend, the Fighting Irish will become the 10th team, and eighth program, in the history of the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament to win back-to-back national championship titles.
Cornell was the first program to win two consecutive national titles in 1976 and 1977 by beating Maryland 16-13 in overtime and Johns Hopkins 16-8 respectively.
Here’s a full list of back-to-back national champions in the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament:
Virginia: 2019 and 2021
Duke: 2013 and 2014
Syracuse: 2008 and 2009
Princeton: 1996, 1997 and 1998
Syracuse: 1988, 1989 and 1990*
Johns Hopkins: 1984 and 1985
North Carolina: 1981 and 1982
Johns Hopkins: 1978, 1979 and 1980
Cornell: 1976 and 1977
Note: The NCAA vacated Syracuse’s 1990 national championship title after the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions found out Orange midfielder Paul Gait was ineligible to play after the game.
REQUIRED READING: How to watch Notre Dame lacrosse in NCAA semifinals Saturday in Philadelphia, TV, streaming
How many NCAA men’s lacrosse national championship titles does Notre Dame have?
Notre Dame has won the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament once in program history, coming last year in 2023.
The Fighting Irish defeated Utah in the first round 20-7 and then Johns Hopkins 12-9 in the quarterfinals to advance to the NCAA men’s lacrosse championship in Philadelphia. Then in its semifinals game against No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Notre Dame mounted a three goal deficit comeback in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime. Graduate student midfielder Brian Tevlin would then score the game winning goal in OT sending the Irish to the national title game, after catching the Cavaliers defense off guard with a fake pass as he headed to the cage.
Brian Tevlin wasn't ready to go home.
GAME WINNER IN THE LINC. The Irish are headed to the National Championship game. #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/nqxsHXVtpE— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 27, 2023
Led by a balanced scoring attack — six players with two goals — and an impressive 14/24 winning at the faceoff circle, Notre Dame would then take down No. 1 Duke in the national championship game by a score of 13-9, claiming the first national championship trophy in program history.
IT WAS ALWAYS THE IRISH.
NATIONAL CHAMPS.#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/ShOwolXqX3— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 29, 2023
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Most NCAA men’s lacrosse titles
Syracuse holds the record for most NCAA men’s lacrosse national championship titles at 10, largely in part to the Oranges’ dominant run from the late 1980s through mid 1990s. Johns Hopkins (nine), Virginia (seven), Princeton (six) and North Carolina (five) round out the top five.
Here’s a list of programs that have a NCAA men’s lacrosse national championship title:
1. Syracuse: 10* (1983, 1988-1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009)
2. Johns Hopkins: 9 (1974, 1978-1980, 1984-1985, 1987, 2005 and 2007)
3. Virginia: 7 (1972, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2019 and 2021)
4. Princeton: 6 (1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2001)
5. North Carolina: 5 (1981-1982, 1986, 1991 and 2016)
6. Maryland: 4 (1973, 1975, 2017 and 2022)
T-7. Duke: 3 (2010, 2013-2014)
T-7. Cornell: 3 (1971, 1976-1977)
T-9. Denver: 1 (2015)
T-9. Yale: 1 (2018)
T-9. Notre Dame: 1 (2023)
T-9. Loyola Maryland: 1 (2012)
* Does not include vacated 1990 national championship title
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Past NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament champions
Here's a full look back at past national champions in the NCAA men's lacrosse tournament dating back to 1971:
2023: Notre Dame
2022: Maryland
2021: Virginia
2020: Canceled due to COVID-19
2019: Virginia
2018: Yale
2017: Maryland
2016: North Carolina
2015: Denver
2014: Duke
2013: Duke
2012: Loyola Maryland
2011: Virginia
2010: Duke
2009: Syracuse
2008: Syracuse
2007: Johns Hopkins
2006: Virginia
2005: Johns Hopkins
2004: Syracuse
2003: Virginia
2002: Syracuse
2001: Princeton
2000: Syracuse
1999: Virginia
1998: Princeton
1997: Princeton
1996: Princeton
1995: Syracuse
1994: Princeton
1993: Syracuse
1992: Princeton
1991: North Carolina
1990: Syracuse
1989: Syracuse
1988: Syracuse
1987: Johns Hopkins
1986: North Carolina
1985: Johns Hopkins
1984: Johns Hopkins
1983: Syracuse
1982: North Carolina
1981: North Carolina
1980: Johns Hopkins
1979: Johns Hopkins
1978: Johns Hopkins
1977: Cornell
1976: Cornell
1975: Maryland
1974: Johns Hopkins
1973: Maryland
1972: Virginia
1971: Cornell
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This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Live score updates: Notre Dame vs. Denver in NCAA lacrosse semifinal