Dec. 4, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team is ranked third in the 2013 Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook preseason top-20 poll. Defending NCAA champion Loyola is No. 1 and Maryland, the 2012 national runner-up, is No. 2.
The Face-Off Yearbook also released its preseason All-Americans and Notre Dame’s John Kemp (Sr./G), Jim Marlatt (Jr./M) and Matt Miller (Sr./D) were on the list. Kemp was named to the first team, while Marlatt and Miller were selected to the second and third teams, respectively.
Kemp (Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep) earned first-team All-America honors last season as he led the nation in goals-against average (6.27) and save percentage (.637). He compiled a 13-3 record between the pipes and was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Kemp also was a 2012 Tewaaraton Award nominee. The Irish goalie received honorable mention All-America accolades as a sophomore in 2011.
Marlatt (Clarksville, Md./River Hill) had a major impact for the Irish last season after missing all of his freshman campaign due to injury. The midfielder tallied a team-high 31 points on 19 goals and a team-best 12 assists en route to copping first team all-BIG EAST honors and an honorable mention All-America citation. Marlatt notched three or more points in a game seven times last season, including a three-goal, two-assist performance against Yale in the first round of the NCAA Championship.
Miller (Warrenton, Va./Notre Dame Academy) was a key force in the Fighting Irish defensive unit that ranked first nationally in 2012 by allowing just 6.31 goals per game. Notre Dame also boasted the country’s top man-down defense (.892). Miller started every contest in the close defense and picked up 30 ground balls. He received honorable mention All-America accolades and was a second-team all-BIG EAST pick.
The Fighting Irish went 13-3 last season and won the BIG EAST regular-season title with a 6-0 league record. Notre Dame topped Yale, 13-7, in the first round of the NCAA Championship and then defeated Virginia, 12-10, in the tournament’s quarterfinals. The Irish fell to Loyola, 7-5, in the semifinals. It was Notre Dame’s second national semifinal appearance in the past three seasons.
Notre Dame will open its 2013 campaign Feb. 16 at Duke. Prior to that contest, the Fighting Irish will face the U.S. National Team in the Champion Challenge for the third consecutive season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. That game is slated for Jan. 26.
There are six teams on Notre Dame’s 2013 schedule that appear in the Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook preseason top-20 poll. Duke (#4), North Carolina (#5) and Denver (#10) join the Irish in the top 10, while Syracuse (#14), Penn State (#15) and Hofstra (#17) also are ranked.
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