SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Following a record weekend for the Irish, two from Notre Dame women’s lacrosse have earned Player of the Week recognition. After a pair of statement wins in which she tallied five goals in each, Madison Ahern was tabbed Offensive Player of the Week by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, and USA Lacrosse Magazine. Hannah Dorney joins her teammate with ACC honors, being named co-Defensive Player of the Week by the conference, the ACC announced Tuesday.
Ahern’s conference and national honors come on the heels of her 11 point week in which she recorded 10 goals and an assist, lifting her Irish to a 2-0 record over the week span. Against Brown, the senior led the team with six points off five goals and an assist, just shy of her career-best of six goals. After being named to the IL Women’s Mid-Season All-American honorable mention team following the Brown game, Ahern came out firing against No. 3 North Carolina as she led the Irish to a 16-12 victory behind another five-goal performance from the Cahasset, Massachusetts native. Ahern tallied two goals in the opening half against the visiting Tar Heels, including the final goal with 31 seconds left in the opening half to give Notre Dame the 9-4 lead. The Tar Heels battled back in the third quarter to draw within two, but Ahern’s three goal fourth quarter sealed the Irish win.
The ACC co-Defensive Player of the Week propelled the Irish to their undefeated record last week as they topped Brown and UNC at home to remain unbeaten in South Bend this season. Dorney caused three turnovers and recorded four ground balls over the two-game stretch. Her defensive play was a key factor in Notre Dame’s high clear percentage and was the leading ball carrier through the transition. The graduate student also registered one draw control win and a goal in the victory over North Carolina, giving the Irish an early-two goal lead in which they would not lose.
Ahern, Dorney and the rest of the Irish are back home this weekend for a top-10 matchup against the seventh-ranked Eagles of Boston College inside Arlotta Stadium Saturday, April 8, at noon.