SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The seventh-seeded University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team rolled to a convincing 24-6 win over Coastal Carolina Friday afternoon in round one of the NCAA Tournament. The 24 goals forced was a program record in the postseason while the 18-goal differential also set a NCAA Tournament record for Notre Dame. The victory comes as the program’s 300th all-time.
With nine assists in the outing, Jackie Wolak set the program record for single game assists while her five assists in the first quarter tied a Notre Dame best for assists in a half.
The Irish wasted no time finding the scoreboard when Kasey Choma gave the Irish the 1-0 lead just 27 seconds into the first quarter.
The Chanticleers had their first possession of the game later but Olivia Dooley caused a turnover on their opening possession to set up the Irish for another tally, this time from the stick of Arden Tierney.
Tierney gave the Irish the 3-0 lead shortly after as the graduate attacker capitalized off the free position at 10:58 of the first.
After assisting on the first two goals of the day, Jackie Wolak net her first goal of the day to make it a 4-0 game at 6:40 of the opening quarter.
Madison Ahern’s first goal of the day extended the Irish lead while Wolak added another assist to her record-breaking day at 5:34 of the first quarter.
The Irish closed out the first quarter with four additional goals from MK Doherty, Choma and Tierney as Notre Dame took the 9-0 lead into the second quarter.
Coastal Carolina cut into the Irish lead with a goal at 13:11 as a shot from the Chanticleers’ attacker beat Lilly Callahan in the crease for their first NCAA Tournament goal in program history.
Tierney, Ahern and Choma extended the Irish lead partway through the second quarter to give the seventh-seeded Irish the 12-1 lead.
The Chanticleers got another one back with an unassisted tally at 7:01 of the second quarter but Abby Maichin net her first of the day moments later to give the Irish the 13-2 lead.
The visitors found the back of the net once more before the half as the Irish carried the 10-goal lead into the halftime break.
Keelin Schlageter opened the second half scoring with Doherty setting her up for the 14-3 tally before Ahern and Wolak added to the Irish lead shortly after.
The Irish scoring continued with Kathryn Morrissey netting two consecutive goals, both of which were assisted by Wolak as the Irish took the 18-3 lead with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter.
Ahern and Tierney closed out the third quarter scoring to take the 20-3 lead into the final quarter of play. With assists on both goals and the final four goals of the third quarter, Jackie Wolak set a program record for assists in a game with nine.
The Irish scored four goals in the fourth quarter to cap off the 24-6 victory Friday afternoon. Choma’s free position goal to start the final quarter’s scoring was her fifth of the season while Morrissey’s goal at 7:57 of the frame was her third of the day and the first career hat trick for the freshman.
Meghan O’Hare and Kate Timarky closed out the scoring for the Irish, including Timarky’s which came in the final second of regulation.
With the decision in cage, Lilly Callahan boasts a 16-3 record this season and ties the single-season record for wins for an Irish goalkeeper.
KEY STATS
- With the win over Coastal Carolina, the Irish women collect program victory No. 300.
- Jackie Wolak set a program record with nine assists in the contest, while tying her career-best 11 points which she set earlier this season.
- Arden Tierney and Kasey Choma led the way for the Irish with five goals a piece as the graduate students combined for 10 of the team’s 24 goals. For Tierney, the five goal outing was a career best.
- Their fellow graduate, Madison Ahern, had four goals on the day and added an assist for five points total.
- Kathryn Morrissey’s three-goal game was a career best for the freshman, marking her first-ever hat trick.
- Earning the win in cage, Lilly Callahan ties the program record for wins in a single season at 16 and breaks her previous best of 15 victories set in 2023.
- Choma’s second goal of the day marked career point No. 300 for the graduate midfielder as she becomes the fifth Irish woman to accomplish the feat and joins teammates Wolak and Ahern in the 300-point club. The trio marks the first ever teammates to boast 300+ points in a career at one time.
- With 11 draw controls on the day, Kelly Denes led the team in the category and posted her fifth double-digit draw performance of the season. She now owns a career record of 381 draw controls and her 142 this season is 11 shy of setting the single-season program record.
- After 11 points in Friday’s win over Coastal Carolina, Wolak is fast approaching the all-time career points record. Now at 334 over her Irish career, Wolak is three points shy of breaking the program record, 336, currently held by Jillian Byers.
- Her 11 points in the NCAA First Round gives her 40 points in NCAA Tournament play which is a Notre Dame record. Choma’s 32 in postseason NCAA play ranks second all-time while Ahern’s 24 ranks third.
UP NEXT
The Irish advance to Sunday’s NCAA Second Round matchup and will face the winner of Mercer/Michigan at noon.