CHARLOTTE – For the third time in program history, the No. 1 Fighting Irish are ACC Tournament champions, defeating No. 6 Duke by a final score of 16-6 at American Legion Memorial Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Notre Dame also captured the title in 2014 and 2018 but this season marks the first time in program history that the Irish have won the regular season title and the tournament championship.
The Irish head into the NCAA Tournament on a 10-game win streak, the longest since also winning 10 straight during the 2012 season.
Notre Dame’s attack totaled 34 goals over the ACC Tournament, tying the record for most goals scored in a single tourney.
Liam Entenmann continued his sensational form, as he was named the 2024 ACC Tournament MVP. On Sunday he made 12 saves while allowing just six goals and over the two-game stretch he finished with 30 saves and 12 goals allowed to lead the Irish to the title.
Will Lynch, Shawn Lyght, Chris Kavanagh, Jake Taylor and Devon McLane joined Entenmann on the ACC All-Tournament Team.
Chris Kavanagh and Jake Taylor paced the Irish attack on Sunday, each recording a three-goal hat trick. Chris Kavanagh added two assists as well to give him five points on the afternoon. The trio of Pat Kavanagh, Reilly Gray and Devon McLane each posted two goals en route to the victory.
Lynch was absolutely dominant at the faceoff dot, finishing 15-for-21 and scooping nine ground balls in the winning effort.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight game, the Irish came out of the gates flying as Notre Dame jumped out to an early 5-0 lead over the first 14 minutes of action. Gray and Taylor each scored a pair and Chris Kavanagh added one before the Blue Devils scored right before the end of the period ta make it 5-1.
Notre Dame carried its momentum into the second quarter, outscoring Duke 3-1 to take an 8-2 lead into the halftime break. McLane scored twice and Pat Kavanagh added one to complete the impressive first 30 minutes of play.
The Blue Devils scored three of the first four goals out of the intermission to trim the lead to four at 9-5 with seven minutes left in the third.
However, it was all Irish from that point on as Angrick and Chris Kavanagh scored goals in the final six minutes of the quarter to push the lead back up to six at 11-5.
Duke scored first in the fourth before the Irish closed out the game with the final five goals of the day to put an exclamation mark on a dominant weekend. The Irish won by a final score of 16-6 to capture the title.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
- This marked Notre Dame’s fifth ACC Championship title game appearance in program history, including each of the last four.
- Notre Dame is now 7-0 against top-10 teams this season.
- The Irish remained unbeaten away from Arlotta Stadium in 2024, going 7-0 in games played outside of South Bend.
- The Notre Dame attack has finished in double-figures for goals in every game this season.
- Notre Dame now leads Duke in the all-time series with a record of 17-16.
- The Irish defense has held eight of its opponents to single digits this season, including each of the last four.
- The 10-goal win marks the largest margin of victory for Notre Dame over Duke in the all-time series.
- Entenmann has recorded double-digit saves in six straight games and in nine of his last 10 outings.
- Will Maheras registered the first goal of his career in the tournament final.
UP NEXT
The Irish will find out their path in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday evening, as the selection committee will reveal the bracket at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
— ND —