Dec. 18, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team has announced its 2009 spring schedule. The Fighting Irish have 13 regular-season games on the slate, beginning with a tilt against Loyola (Md.) on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Atlanta, Ga.
Along with the trip to Atlanta, the Irish also will face Vermont in the 2009 Patriot Cup in Dallas, Texas. Notre Dame will conclude the regular season by facing Great Western Lacrosse League foe Ohio State in Ohio Stadium (The Horseshoe) prior to the Buckeyes spring football game on April 25.
Following the season opener against the Greyhounds, the Irish will hit the road to renew their annual rivalry with Penn State on Sunday, Feb. 22 in University Park, Pa. Notre Dame’s home opener will be Saturday, Feb. 28 against Dartmouth.
The Fighting Irish will welcome in North Carolina on Sunday, March 8. A trip to Bethesda, Md. to face Bucknell at Georgetown Prep awaits the squad on Thursday, March 12.
Notre Dame will then venture to Texas to take part in the 2009 Patriot Cup. The Irish will face Vermont in the event, which will be held at SMU’s Ford Stadium on Saturday, March 21.
A three-game homestand will begin with the GWLL opener against Bellarmine on March 25. Notre Dame will step away from conference play to host Villanova on Tuesday, March 31 before returning to GWLL action on Saturday, April 4 against Air Force at home.
The Fighting Irish will return to the road with league contests at Denver (April 11) and Quinnipiac (April 17). Notre Dame will wrap up its home schedule with a non-conference clash against St. John’s on Sunday, April 19. Notre Dame will then conclude the regular season at Ohio State in a stadium that holds over 102,000 spectators.
The second GWLL postseason tournament will take place May 1 and 3 at Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Mich. Notre Dame won the inaugural GWLL tournament last season.
Notre Dame will hope to be among the 16-team NCAA Championship field for the fourth straight season when the 2009 tournament commences with first-round games on May 9 and 10 at campus sites. The quarterfinals will be held May 16 and 17 in Annapolis, Md. and Hempstead, N.Y. For the second consecutive season, the NCAA semifinals and final will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
The Fighting Irish have four teams on their 2009 slate that were in the 2008 NCAA Championship (Denver, Loyola, North Carolina, Ohio State).
This season marks the last for Notre Dame in the GWLL. The Fighting Irish will begin play in the BIG EAST Conference next season. Notre Dame will get a look at future BIG EAST foes when the Irish face Villanova and St. John’s during the 2009 campaign.
All Irish home games will be played on campus either indoors at the Loftus Sports Center or outdoors at Alumni Field. Arlotta Stadium, the soon-to-be home for Notre Dame lacrosse, is currently under construction.
2009 NOTRE DAME MEN'S LACROSSE SCHEDULE
FEBRUARY14 Sat. vs. Loyola (Md.) (Atlanta, Ga.)22 Sun. at Penn State28 Sat. DARTMOUTH
MARCH8 Sun. NORTH CAROLINA12 Thurs. vs. Bucknell (Bethesda, Md.)21 Sat. vs. Vermont (Dallas, Texas)25 Wed. BELLARMINE*31 Tues. VILLANOVA
APRIL4 Sat. AIR FORCE*11 Sat. at Denver*17 Fri. at Quinnipiac*19 Sun. ST. JOHN'S25 Sat. at Ohio State*
MAY1 Fri. GWLL Semifinals^3 Sun. GWLL Final^9/10 Sat./Sun. NCAA Championship (1st Round) Campus Sites16/17 Sat./Sun. NCAA Championship (Quarterfinals) Annapolis, Md./Hempstead, N.Y.23 Sat. NCAA Championship (Semifinals) Foxborough, Mass.25 Mon. NCAA Championship (Final) Foxborough, Mass.
Home games in BOLD CAPS* - GWLL game^ - Birmingham, Mich. (Seaholm High School)