ATLANTA – The No. 1 Fighting Irish dropped a hardfought 11-10 decision to No. 2 Maryland in a battle of the nation’s top two teams at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday. The loss is the first of the season for Notre Dame.
The Irish got major contributions from senior FOGO Will Lynch, who won 16-of-22 faceoffs and added a season-high 12 ground balls.
Notre Dame’s attacking duo of Chris Kavanagh and Jake Taylor did much of the heavy lifting in the game, as Kavanagh finished with a game-high four goals while Taylor added three along with an assist. Jordan Faison recorded two goals and Max Busenkell tallied a goal and two assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish jumped out to an early two-goal advantage, scoring twice in the first three minutes of play, as Taylor and Kavanagh both found the back of the net. The Terrapins answered with two of the final three goals of the first frame to trim the Notre Dame lead to 3-2 through 15 minutes of action.
Maryland then scored the first two goals of the second quarter to take its first lead of the day at 4-3 before the Irish responded with the final two goals courtesy of Taylor and Busenkell to take a 5-4 lead into the break.
The Terrapins came out hot in the third quarter with three unanswered scores to go back up on top at 7-5 with four minutes left in the period. Taylor then completed his hat trick with his third to get the Irish back within one at 7-6 but Maryland once again answered a minute later to send the game into the fourth quarter with an 8-6 lead.
The Irish tried to claw their way back into the game, as Kavanagh scored three times over the first nine minutes of the fourth but the Terrapins added two over that stretch to make the game 10-9.
The Terrapins then capitalized in transition off a Notre Dame turnover while the Irish were on the EMO and scored a short-handed goal with 5:22 left in regulation to take an 11-9 lead.
Notre Dame refused to go away, as Faison scored his second goal of the afternoon to make it a one goal game with 90 seconds remaining. The Irish won the ensuing faceoff and had a golden opportunity in the final seconds of play, as Kavanagh worked his way to the crease but was turned away by the Maryland goalie, as the Terrapins held onto the win.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame returns to Arlotta Stadium for another ranked matchup against a Big Ten team, taking on No. 16/17 Ohio State at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 8. Admission to the game is free and it will air on ACCN.
— ND —