Notre Dame lacrosse dominates Syracuse, advances to NCAA title game Notre Dame’s lacrosse team secured a decisive 15-7 victory over sixth-seeded Syracuse in the NCAA national semifinals on Saturday, May 23, propelling them to the title game on Memorial Day. The second-seeded Irish overwhelmed the Orange with five extra-man goals, leveraging their special teams to overcome a resilient Syracuse squad. The win sets up a showdown against top-seeded Princeton on Monday, May 25, in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Notre Dame will aim to claim its third national title in four seasons. The game’s defining moments unfolded in the final quarter, when Notre Dame’s relentless man-up strategy turned the tide. After Syracuse closed the gap to 9-7, the Irish unleashed a two-minute offensive surge, scoring three critical goals. Sophomore midfielder Matt Jeffery’s penalty, drawn with two seconds remaining on the shot clock, set the stage for Notre Dame’s dominance. Brady Pokorny, whose father, Jason, played for Syracuse alongside current coach Gary Gait, capitalized on the opportunity with a no-look, over-the-shoulder shot that shifted momentum decisively toward the Irish. Notre Dame’s special teams, led by senior goalie Thomas Ricciardelli, stifled Syracuse’s final 16:39 of play. Ricciardelli made 14 saves, including a crucial stop after a Syracuse goal, to preserve the Irish lead. His performance was complemented by senior attackman Josh Yago, who notched a hat trick and four assists, marking his second consecutive seven-point game. Yago’s ability to distribute the ball under pressure highlighted Notre Dame’s unselfish style, a trait emphasized by Yago himself: “When we get deeper into possessions and share the ball the way we do … it’s going to be hard to stop just because of how well we move the ball.#notre_dame #syracuse #princeton #charlottesville_virginia #shawn_lyght
