July 6, 2003
Towson, Md. – Notre Dame sophomore-to-be Patrick Walsh (Wantagh, N.Y.) was instrumental in helping the United States capture the 2003 Under-19 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship. The 10-day event was held from June 26-July 5 at Towson University in Towson, Md.
The USA squad captured the championship by winning all six of its contests. The team posted wins over Australia (16-6), Canada (14-10), Iroquois (14-6), England (22-3 and 21-6) and Canada (19-10).
Walsh, who copped STX/United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) honorable mention All-America honors following his freshman season, led the USA squad with four goals and three assists in a 19-10 victory over Canada in the championship contest. He finished 13 goals and eight assists in the six games, earning starts in four of those contests.
Walsh recorded either a goal or an assist in every game. His best outing was his seven-point effort in the championship game versus Canada. In the USA squad’s 21-6 victory over England , he netted two goals and dished off two assists. In the other win against England, he had two goals and an assist. In the 14-6 win over Iroquois, he tallied two goals and added three goals in a 14-10 win over Canada. In the USA squad’s 16-6 opening victory against Australia, he had two assists.
Walsh had an outstanding rookie at attack for the Irish as he led Notre Dame in scoring with 20 goals and 32 assists. The ’03 Great Western Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year and first-team all-conference selection became the 13th player in the 23-year history of the Irish lacrosse program to earn All-America recognition. He also became the only Notre Dame player to cop All-America honors as a freshman.
Walsh was the first freshman since Randy Colley in 1992 to lead the Irish in scoring, while his 32 assists tied the single-season mark held by both Mike Sullivan (1990) and David Ulrich (2000). He was the only freshman to start all 14 games in ’03 and registered either a goal or an assist in 13 of those matches. Walsh recorded a personal-high eight points in Notre Dame’s 16-11 victory over Harvard on April 26, 2003, scoring four goals and dishing off four assists.