Oct. 2, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team will kick off its 2006 fall season with an exhibition game against the Chicago Machine of the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) on Sunday, Oct. 8 at Techny Prairie Park and Fields in Northbook, Ill. Game time is slated for 4:30 p.m. (CT) and admission is free to the public.
The contest is being presented by the Chicago Machine and the Northbrook Park District. A shooting clinic will be held during halftime and giveaways and Machine merchandise will be offered at the event.
The Fighting Irish return seven starters and 16 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished the season with a 10-5 record (3-2 GWLL). Notre Dame earned their first berth to the NCAA Tournament since a Final Four appearance in 2001. The Irish fell to eventual NCAA champion Virginia by a 14-10 margin and finished the season ranked 17th in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) poll and 15th in the Inside Lacrosse poll.
Notre Dame returns USILA Honorable Mention All-America goaltender Joey Kemp (Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep) as well returning senior attackman Brian Hubschmann (Short Hills, N.J./Delbarton). Hubschmann and Kemp were also named to the 2006 All-Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) First Team.
The Machine are fresh off their inaugural season in the MLL in 2006. Chicago, who competes in the league’s Western Conference, was part of a four-team expansion announced by the league in the fall of 2005. The other three franchises are the Los Angeles Riptide, San Francisco Dragons and the Denver Outlaws.
Former Irish All-American defenseman Todd Rassas is a member of the Chicago franchise. Rassas is fresh off a silver medal-winning performance as part of Team USA competing in the ILF World Championships. The team was a perfect 6-0 throughout game play before falling to host nation Canada in the championship game.
The venture to Techny Prairie Park and Fields is the second trip in less than a year to the Chicago area for the Irish. Notre Dame and No. 8 Cornell played in front of 3,523 fans at the Benedictine Sports Complex in Lisle, Ill. on March 4, 2006.
For more information on the game, log onto www.chicagomachine.com or call 847-424-9900.
Stay up-to-date on the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team by logging onto und.com or by calling the Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.
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