COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The No. 1/2 Fighting Irish men’s lacrosse team remains unbeaten, posting a big 11-8 road win over No. 11/9 Maryland on Saturday afternoon inside SECU Stadium.
The victory improves Notre Dame to 4-0 on the season and the Irish have now recorded back-to-back wins over top-15 teams.
The attacking duo of Brock Behrman and Luke Miller made headlines in the win, as the two combined for 11 points. Behrman recorded a game-high six points off three goals and three assists while Miller recorded the first hat trick of his career and totaled a career-high five points off three goals and two assists.
Matt Jeffery and Teddy Lally each recorded multiple points in the win, finishing with a goal and an assist apiece.
Thomas Ricciardelli finished the afternoon with seven saves to improve to 4-0 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The defenses of both teams controlled much of the first quarter, as the Terrapins held a 2-1 lead after the opening 15 minutes of play. The Irish scored on their first possession off a strike from Will Angrick on an extra-man opportunity but the hosts responded with the final two scores of the frame.
Notre Dame’s attack kicked into gear in the second stanza, putting five goals past the Maryland goalie while the defense held the hosts to just two goals to take a 6-4 lead into the halftime break.
The Irish and Terrapins traded goals through the first 9 minutes of the second stanza, with each team scoring twice to move the score to 4-3. Notre Dame then finished the half with a flurry, recording the final three goals of the half to take a two-goal lead at the halfway mark. Behrman scored twice and Jeffery added one in the spurt.
Notre Dame carried the momentum into the second half, controlling both ends of the field and extending its lead. Miller scored the first two goals of the third quarter to complete his first career hat trick and make the score 8-4.
Less than 2 minutes later Behrman notched his hat trick, his second of the season, to push the lead to five at 9-4 with 6:42 left in the third quarter. Teddy Lally capped off the run with his first goal of the day to give Notre Dame a six-goal lead at 10-4.
The Terrapins managed to pull one back before the end of the third quarter off a goal in transition but the Irish held a five-goal advantage at 10-5 heading into the final frame.
The Irish scored the first goal of the fourth, as Josh Yago got in on the action with his first of the day off the feed from Behrman. Maryland answered with a goal with 8 minutes remaining in regulation to make the score 11-6.
The hosts scored two more goals in the final six minutes of play but the Irish were able to get enough stops down the stretch to secure the 11-8 road win over No. 11/9 Maryland.
STAT OF THE GAME
Notre Dame’s defense held the Terrapins to a season-low eight goals. The eight goals are the fewest Maryland has scored against the Irish in the series history when playing in College Park.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
- The Irish leveled the all-time series against Maryland at 10-10 with the win.
- Notre Dame has won four of the last five matchups against the Terrapins.
- The Blue and Gold improved to 44-5 in its last 49 games played in the month of February dating back to the 2006 season.
- The Irish have won all four games this season by at least three goals.
- Notre Dame has won the ground ball battle in all four games this season, this time by a mark of 19-16 over the Terrapins.
- Behrman recorded his second hat trick of the season and tied his career high for assists with three.
- Miller registered the first hat trick of his career with a career-high three goals and he tied his career high for assists in a game with two.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame remains on the road for another battle against a team from the Big Ten, taking on No. 9/10 Ohio State in Columbus at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 7. The game will be streamed on B1G+.