Notre Dame Defends NCAA Lacrosse Title with 15-6 Win over Ohio State

In a major NCAA lacrosse tournament upset, No. 10/8 Notre Dame defeated No. 2 Ohio State 15-6 in the first round. Notre Dame overcame an early 3-1 deficit with a dominant 6-0 run before halftime and continued to pull away with a 5-goal spurt early in the fourth quarter, showcasing their postseason experience and versatility in scoring. The Fighting Irish were led by Chris Kavanagh and Jake Taylor, both scoring hat tricks, while Will Lynch dominated faceoffs, winning 17 of 23 and securing crucial possessions. Goalie Thomas Ricciardelli made 15 saves, outdueling Ohio State’s Caleb Fyock and helping limit the Buckeyes to their highest goals allowed since the season opener. Ohio State, despite being the tournament's No. 2 seed and having beaten Notre Dame earlier in the season, struggled to contain Notre Dame’s offense and ultimately could not recover from Notre Dame's decisive runs. Notre Dame will advance to the quarterfinals to face Penn State, seeking their third consecutive NCAA lacrosse title.