April 15, 2016
NOTRE DAME, Ind. –
By Leigh Torbin
Don’t let the second half of your half penny opportunity slip past as No. 7 Notre Dame women’s lacrosse welcomes No. 6 USC to Arlotta Stadium at 4 p.m. on Monday in the second of two games where commemorative “half penny” coins will be distributed to honor Irish head coach Christine Halfpenny.
Half of the shipment of specially-made bronze half pennies with Halfpenny’s likeness remain and will be distributed to Irish fans on Monday as the Fighting Irish and Women of Troy bring 87 years worth of athletic history between the intersectional rivals to the lacrosse field for the first time.
Just as was the case on March 13 in a 16-11 Irish win over No. 7 Princeton, on Monday, the first 300 fans will receive a numbered ticket upon entry to Arlotta Stadium. At half time, half of the ticket holders will win a half penny. If Notre Dame has scored an even number of first half goals, even numbered ticket holders will win and likewise should the Irish score an odd number of goals before halftime.
Tickets for the USC game are, fittingly, just a half a penny each, although they must be purchased in groups of two. Fans can expect to see plenty of offense as two of the top three scoring teams in the nation will battle at Arlotta Stadium. USC leads the nation at 15.46 goals per game while Notre Dame stands third at 15.21 goals per game.
The Monday game against USC caps a critical weekend for the Irish as Saturday will see Notre Dame play host to No. 13 Duke at noon.