Four Notre Dame Players Selected In 2021 PLL Draft

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse standouts Jack Kielty, Kyle Gallagher, Kyle Thornton and Charlie Leonard had their names called on Monday night during the 2021 Premier Lacrosse League draft. Kielty is headed to the Cannons, Gallagher and Thornton to the Chaos and Leonard to the Redwoods.

With the four selections, the Fighting Irish now have had 45 players selected in the history of pro lacrosse drafts. The four selections were also the most of any ACC program and the second most of any team in the country.

Kielty was the first Notre Dame player off the board, as the Canons took him ninth overall with the first pick in the second round. Kielty has been a lockdown defenseman this season for the Irish, regularly drawing the other team’s number one scoring threat. The Morristown, New Jersey, native and the rest of the Notre Dame defense are allowing just 8.56 goals per game, the best mark in the ACC.

Kielty is one of just 25 men’s players to be named Tewaaraton Nominees this season. He was named the US Lacrosse Magazine National Player of the Week, ACC Defensive Player of the Week, USILA Team of the Week member, and voted the Inside Lacrosse Player of the Week following his performance in the win over Duke. Kielty is the only defenseman to be named the US Lacrosse Magazine National Player of the Week at the DI level this season.

Gallagher was selected 14th overall in the second round by the Chaos. Gallagher joined the Irish for the 2021 season after graduating from Penn in 2020. The faceoff specialist ranks third among all active DI players in faceoff wins with 700 in his career. Gallagher has a career percentage of .587 at the dot and has scooped up 460 ground balls, also ranking third among all active players.

The Northport, New York, product has collected plenty of awards and accolades over his illustrious career. Following the 2019 season Gallagher was named a third team All-American by Inside Lacrosse and the USILA. He entered 2021 as a Preseason All-ACC selection and a second team All-American by the USIAL and Inside Lacrosse.

Thornton joins Gallagher on the Chaos, as the club selected the defenseman with the 22nd overall pick in the third round. Thornton also made the transition from Penn to Notre Dame for a year of graduate school following the 2020 season. The defenseman has made a huge impact on the defensive unity, as he has started every game this season for the Irish.

Thornton has wreaked havoc on opposing attacks, leading Notre Dame in caused turnovers this season with 14 through nine games of play. The Garden City, New York, native was named a Third Team Midseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse in early April.

Leonard will be joining plenty of Notre Dame alums at the pro level, as he was selected in the fourth round with the 32nd overall pick by the Redwoods, a team that currently has 10 Fighting Irish alums on the roster. The faceoff specialist is currently having the best season of his career, winning 60.5 percent (52-of-86) of his attempts at the dot and has added two goals, an assist and 32 ground balls.

The Highlands Ranch, Colorado, product was named a 2019 All-ACC selection following a stellar junior season. In his Notre Dame career, Leonard has scored nine goals and scooped 163 ground balls to go with a 55.2 faceoff winning percentage.

The four draftees and the rest of the No. 4/4 Fighting Irish close out the regular season this weekend at Arlotta Stadium against No. 9/8 Syracuse. The game is set for a noon start on Saturday, May 1 and will air on ESPNU.