NOTRE DAME
2012 RECORD: 13-3 (6-0 BIG EAST) COACH: KEVIN CORRIGAN (25TH YEAR)
FIGHTING IRISH 4
Upon studying the formula that has yielded so much success at Notre Dame over the years, it’s easy to dismiss the offense as the second cousin to a defense that is typically lock-down good. The Fighting Irish seemingly play for
the low-scoring victory, and they are right at home with the tiny margin of error known as the one-goal win. In 2012, Notre Dame ranked No. 1 nationally in defense by allowing just 6.31 goals per game. It had the nation’s best man-down defense, and the remarkable John Kemp continued a decade-long run of great goalies in South Bend. Conversely, the Irish averaged just 8.6 goals, good for 47th place out of 61 Division I teams. As for the notion that Notre Dame is not trying to score
every time it has the ball, 25th-year coach Kevin Corrigan rolls his eyes. The depth the Irish have on offense in 2013 and the NCAA rule changes that have ruled out substitution horns and brought in a 30-second shot clock after stalling calls could induce more scoring in Notre Dame. “We’re not coaching our guys to play fast or slow. We’re not trying to score 15 goals or six goals. We’re trying to play smart, effi cient offense and score enough goals to win the game that day,” Corrigan said. “You can’t be ineffi cient and undisciplined on offense and lead the country in scoring defense. Our offense doesn’t
Feb 16 at Duke Feb 24 at Penn State Mar 2 vs. North Carolina Mar 9 vs. Hofstra Mar 16 vs. Denver* Mar 20 vs. Ohio State Mar 24 at Rutgers Mar 30 vs. St. John’s Apr 2
vs. Marquette**
Apr 7 at Providence Apr 20 vs. Villanova Apr 27 vs. Syracuse** * at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver ** at Chicago
*** at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
give away many bad possessions, doesn’t foul a lot, and we don’t give up a lot of transition. It all goes hand in hand.” The Irish showed in last year’s NCAA tournament they had enough offensive pieces to light up the scoreboard by Notre Dame’s standard. Before running into Loyola’s defense in a 7-5 loss in the semifi nals, Notre Dame produced 25 goals and shot better than 40 percent in the fi rst two rounds, including an impressive 12-10 quarterfi nal victory over Virginia. That might have provided a hint of things to come in 2013. The entire starting attack of Sean Rogers, Westy Hopkins and Conor Doyle is back. Highly touted freshman Matt Kavanagh could be quite an extra-man threat, at the very least. But it’s the possibly loaded midfi eld that might help the Irish
set off some fi reworks. Junior Jim Marlatt got dramatically better after an injury-plagued freshman season. Junior Steve Murphy was a huge presence in the playoffs. Seniors Pat Cotter and Tyler Kimball and sophomores Will Corrigan and Jack Near — a transition weapon from the defensive middie slot — should get more shooting chances this spring.
— G.L. A Publication of US Lacrosse
Where’s Ryan Foley? Given the versatility of his senior swingman, Irish coach Kevin Corrigan wants to keep foes guessing.
Sean Rogers
RIVAL COACHES SAY “They win so many close games. Does that come back to haunt them? One goal the other way, and we’re talking about a team like Hofstra… Seems like they’ve had a Kemp in goal forever… They remind me of Hopkins mid-’80s. You do what you do better than anybody else. That’s why you win.”
TOP RETURNER G John Kemp (Sr.) The reigning fi rst-team All-American is the rock upon which Notre Dame’s national championship hopes reside. “John is not a life-of-the-party guy,” Corrigan said. “He’s easy-going, while he does the hardest job on the fi eld. Our guys understand they don’t have to worry about John.”
X-FACTOR M Jim Marlatt (Jr.) Freshman attackman Matt Kavanagh also could be this guy, but Marlatt was the most improved player on offense after injuries ruined his freshman season. He led the Irish with 12 assists, and was a go-to guy by April.
PROJECTED STARTERS
A Sean Rogers (Sr.)* G: 22 A: 8
A Westy Hopkins (Jr.)* G: 18 A: 7
A Conor Doyle (So.)* G: 13 A: 7
M Jim Marlatt (Jr.)* G: 19 A: 12
M Ryan Foley (Sr.)* G: 13 A: 8
M Steve Murphy (Sr.) G: 5 A: 7
FO Liam O’Connor (Jr.)* FO%: 49.7 Pts: 4
LSM Tyler Andersen (Sr.)* GB: 20 CT: 8
D Stephen O’Hara (Jr.)* GB: 39 CT: 12
D Matt Miller (Sr.)* GB: 30 CT: 18
D: Brian Buglione (Jr.)* GB: 0 CT: 8
G John Kemp (Sr.)* GAA: 6.27 SV%: 63.7 * returning starters
TELLING NUMBER 4
Opposing offenses scored on just 11 percent of their extra- man chances. Ouch.
Man-down goals Notre Dame surrendered over 16 games in 2012.
February 2013 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 33
©JIM O’CONNOR (SR); ©ANNE RYAN (JK); ©BRYCE VICKMARK (RF)
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