NOTRE DAME, Ind. – No. 7/9 Notre Dame (1-0) put on a show in the first game of 2019, running away with a lopsided 19-6 victory over Detroit Mercy (1-1) inside Loftus Sports Center on Saturday evening. The 19 goals are the most the Irish have scored in a game since defeating Dartmouth 20-8 on Feb. 28, 2015.
Junior Bryan Costabile paced the Irish attack, matching his career high in goals with five. Senior Brendan Gleason also recorded a hat trick with three goals. Juniors Brian Willetts and Charlie Leonard and freshman Griffin Westlin each found the back of the net twice.
The defense was just as impressive, causing 15 turnovers in the rout. Seniors Timmy Phillips and Hugh Crance alongside sophomore Arden Cohen each forced two turnovers in the victory.
How It Happened
The Irish could not have asked for a better start to the season, as Leonard scored the first goal of his career off the opening faceoff just 25 seconds into the game. The Irish doubled their lead just minutes later off Gleason’s first goal of the year. However, the Titans fought back, scoring three straight goals to take a 3-2 advantage with over five minutes left in the quarter.
The score moved to 4-4 in the early stages of the second quarter and then Notre Dame completely took over. The Irish closed the half on a 3-0 run to take a 7-4 advantage into the intermission. The hosts showed no signs of letting up in the second half, carrying its momentum out of the break. Notre Dame outscored Detroit Mercy 5-0 in the third quarter to take complete contro of the game at 12-4.
The Irish tacked on seven scores in the fourth frame to run away with the 19-6 win, its largest victory to open a season in 26 seasons.
Goal Of The Game
The only way to make Griffin Westlin’s 2nd goal better – show it in slow-mo! #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/blmJO3kxyU
— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) February 17, 2019
Notre Dame Player Of The Game
For the second straight season Costabile has opened the season on fire. The Titans had no answer for the midfielder, who tied his career high for goals with five and added one assist. Costabile has scored a combined 10 goals over the last two season openers, both coming in wins over Detroit Mercy.
Stat Of The Game
Notre Dame’s defense completely locked down the Titans attack from the second quarter on, holding the visitors scoreless for a stretch of 31:55 from the second quarter to the fourth. The Irish attack capitalized by going on a 12-0 run during the Titans’ drought to put the game away.
Notre Dame Notes
- With the win, the Irish are now 4-0 against the Titans in the series.
- Notre Dame is now 26-5 in season openers under Baumer Family Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Kevin Corrigan and 31-7 in program history.
- The Irish improve to 35-5 in games played in the month of February during Corrigan’s tenure.
- Over the last four seasons, Notre Dame is 9-1 when playing indoors.
- The 19 goals are the most the Irish have scored in a season opener since also scoring 19 to begin the 2014 season.
- The 13-goal win is the largest margin of victory in an opener since the team defeated Canisius by a score of 21-5 to start the 1993 campaign.
- Sophomores Connor Morin and Wheaton Jackoboice and freshman Quinn McCahon the first starts of their career on Saturday.
- Stephen Chase, Westlin (2), Leonard (2), McCahon, Morin and Jackoboice each scored the first goals of their careers against the Titans.
Up Next
The Irish hit the road for the first time of the 2019 campaign, as the squad will play at Richmond at noon ET on Saturday, Feb. 23. The game will be broadcast on ($)ESPN+ via the Watch ESPN app.— ND —
The University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team pursues excellence on and off the field through the three pillars in which the program is built: Character, Culture & Community. These three foundational values guide the promise of the program, which is to provide its student-athletes with the most compelling and enriching experience in all of college athletics. Through academics, competition, service and travel, the program aims to immerse its players in situations that enhance their student-athlete experience to help them become the people, students and teammates they aspire to be.
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