WASHINGTON – After leading the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to their second-straight NCAA National Championship, Pat Kavanagh became the first player in program history to ever win the most coveted individual honor in the sport, the Tewaaraton Award.
The attackman is just the third Tewaaraton winner in history to also have won multiple national championships.
Kavanagh was one of two Notre Dame players selected as a finalist for the award, joining Liam Entenmann, who was just the third goalie to be nominated for the award on the men’s side in the history of the Tewaaraton and the first since 2011.
The winner was announced in Washington, D.C., at the annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on Thursday, May 30 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
The Irish have now had seven Tewaaraton finalists in program history, as Entenmann has earned the honor once, Kavanagh has achieved the honor three times (2024, 2023 & 2021), joining his older brother Matt (2015), defenseman Matt Landis (2016) and attackman Tom Glatzel (2001).
The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States.
The three other men’s finalists were Matthew Brandeau (Yale), Brennan O’Neill (Duke) and Connor Shellenberger (Virginia).
A three-time Tewaaraton Finalist and the 2024 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Kavanagh is the most decorated attacking player in Notre Dame men’s lacrosse history. The attackman was one of the driving forces behind Notre Dame’s back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, the first two in program history.
The graduate student set the all-time career Notre Dame points (301) and assists (184) records, becoming the only player in program history to reach the 300-point milestone. Kavanagh also holds the top four spots on the program’s record list for assists in a season as well as two of the top three spots for points in a season.
The legend of Pat Kavanagh grew during the 2023 NCAA Championship run, as he played through multiple severe injuries to help the Irish capture their first title in program history. The Rockville Centre, New York, native followed the 2023 season up with an 80-point year as a graduate student as Notre Dame successfully defended its national championship.
Twenty of Kavanagh’s 80 points came in four NCAA Tournament contests, including a six-assist performance in the NCAA National Championship win over No. 7 Maryland.
Entenmann, Notre Dame’s other finalist, finished his career as the greatest goalie in program history, and arguably the greatest in the history of college men’s lacrosse. The graduate student was named USILA Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Outstanding Goalie, which is presented to the top goalie in the country, in back-to-back seasons (2023 & 2024). He also was awarded ACC Goalie of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in two straight seasons coming in 2023 and 2024.
The standout was also named the 2023 NCAA Championships Most Outstanding Player after he put on a masterclass performance in cage in the title game with a season-high 18 saves while allowing just nine goals to propel the Irish to the championship.
He played a huge role in the Irish winning back-to-back national titles, making 12 saves while allowing just six goals in the NCAA Championship semifinal in the win over No. 5 Denver and then followed it up with a 16-save performance while giving up five goals to lead Notre Dame to the title in the win over No. 7 Maryland.