COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team broke multiple individual and team records en route to a 19-10 road victory over Ohio State this afternoon at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
With the win, the Irish remain undefeated at 4-0 while the Buckeyes drop to 3-1.
Andie Aldave broke her own single-game record with 16 draw controls after earning a previous program-best 11 draw controls on two occasions as a freshman in 2018. Aldave’s success on the draw also helped the Irish earn a program-record 23 draw controls against the Buckeyes. The previous record was 22, which came on February 11, 2017 against Detroit Mercy.
Maddie Howe notched six goals and six assists, and her 12 points tie Jillian Byers (April 18, 2009 vs. Connecticut) for the most recorded in a single game in Irish history.
As a team, the Irish dished out 17 assists, which eclipsed the previous program-high of 16 (vs. California, February 28, 2016). The 36 points that the Irish racked up against the Buckeyes are also the most recorded in a road game in program history and fall just one shy of tying the all-time program mark (37 vs. California, February 28, 2016).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The contest opened as a back-and-forth affair with the Irish and Buckeyes tied 4-4 after the first 12 minutes of play. Freshman Mollie Carr opened the scoring for the Irish 1:05 into play before Howe scored her first just over two minutes later.
Senior Samantha Lynch and junior Erin McBride scored back-to-back goals at 20:24 and 18:43, but the Buckeyes responded with a pair of markers to lead 5-4 with 16:43 left in the opening stanza.
The Irish took the lead for good by scoring the next five goals, including a trio by Howe and one each from Aldave and junior Savannah Buchanan.
The Buckeyes broke the Irish scoring run with 5:06 left in the half before Carr’s second goal with seven seconds remaining gave Notre Dame a 10-6 lead at the break.
The Irish scored another nine tallies in the final 30 minutes, including the first three of the second half, to keep control of the contest.
Senior Nikki Ortega, junior Jessi Masinko, sophomore Katie Enrietto (2), Howe (2), Carr (2), and Lynch each netted goals for the Irish in the second half.
Buchanan also notched five points (1G, 4A) for the Irish, while Aldave earned three assists in addition to her goal and 16 draw controls. As a whole, 10 players recorded a point in the victory.
Defensively, Aldave and junior Kathleen Roe paced the Irish with a pair of caused turnovers each.
Senior Samantha Giacolone stopped eight shots and led Notre Dame with six ground balls en route to earning her fourth straight win in goal for the Irish.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- This is the first 4-0 start for Notre Dame since 2016 when the Irish opened the season with five straight victories. The Irish also started 4-0 or better in 2013, 2012, 2006, 2004 and 2002.
- The Irish have scored the first goal in each of their first four contests and have only trailed for 3:14 out of the 240 minutes of play this season.
- The Irish have scored 73 goals and racked up 121 points in their first four victories.
- Maddie Howe leads the Irish with 22 points (13G, 9A) while Samantha Lynch paces the team with 17 goals scored.
- Six players have at least 10 points for the Irish this season, including Howe, Lynch, Jessi Masinko (7G, 10A), Andie Aldave (8G, 6A), Mollie Carr (9G, 4A) and Nikki Ortega (6G, 6A).
- Notre Dame has caused 60 turnovers in four games.
- Aldave leads the Irish with 36 draw controls this season and Savannah Buchanan ranks second on the team with 23.
Coach Christine Halfpenny’s thoughts:
“It was great to see us weather the storm a bit early on and I’m really proud of how this group made some adjustments to earn this victory. The individual records that were earned today are a result of team-play, and this is an extremely tight-knit group that just wants to win for each other.”
Andie Aldave’s thoughts:
“We’re really lucky to have such great coaches and teammates pushing each other, and that’s a large part of our success on the draw. Both draw control records we set today are indicative of this group’s work ethic and how we all challenge one another everyday to get better.”
Maddie Howe’s thoughts:
“No one on this team accomplishes anything alone. The team chemistry and selflessness of this team is unlike anything I have been a part of before. I’m just really happy that we as a team were able to pull out a great win on the road.”
UP NEXT
Notre Dame returns home to take on Kent State on Sunday (Feb. 24) at 1 p.m. That contest will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra and admission is free for all inside Loftus Sports Center.
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