The Virginia men’s lacrosse team made a statement on Sunday, April 30th, as they dethroned top-ranked Notre Dame with an 18-10 victory in the ACC tournament semifinals. The Cavaliers, who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, dominated the Fighting Irish, who had been undefeated until that point in the season.
The game, which took place at Arlotta Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, saw Virginia’s offense firing on all cylinders. The Cavaliers were led by Matt Moore, who had six goals and two assists on the day. The junior midfielder was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. Virginia’s other top scorer was senior attackman Ian Laviano, who had four goals and two assists.
The Cavaliers’ defense also played a crucial role in the victory. Goalkeeper Alex Rode made 15 saves on the day, including several key stops in the second half as Notre Dame tried to mount a comeback.
The win over Notre Dame sets up a rematch with North Carolina in the ACC tournament final. The Tar Heels, who are ranked No. 2 in the nation, defeated Virginia 16-13 in the regular season. The championship game is set for May 1st and will be played at Arlotta Stadium.
Virginia’s victory over Notre Dame not only puts them in a position to win the ACC championship, but it also sets high expectations for the upcoming NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers, who won the national championship in 2019, have had an up-and-down season but seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. If they can continue to play at the level they showed against Notre Dame, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
The win also marks a major upset for Notre Dame, which had been dominant throughout the season. The Fighting Irish, who had been ranked No. 1 in the nation since March 29th, were expected to make a deep run in both the ACC and NCAA tournaments. However, the loss to Virginia shows that even the best teams can be vulnerable on any given day.
The victory over Notre Dame is a significant achievement for Virginia’s head coach, Lars Tiffany, who has been with the program since 2017. Tiffany, who won a national championship with Brown in 2016, has built Virginia into a top program in just a few years. With the victory over Notre Dame, he has cemented his team’s place as a contender for the national championship.
The Virginia men’s lacrosse team has a rich history of success, having won six national championships in their program’s history. The most recent of these championships came in 2019, when the Cavaliers defeated Yale in the title game. This year’s team has had its share of struggles, including losses to Syracuse, Duke, and North Carolina, but they have also shown flashes of brilliance, including an overtime victory over Notre Dame earlier in the season.
As the NCAA tournament approaches, Virginia’s victory over Notre Dame will no doubt be a source of inspiration for the team. With the talent and experience they have, there is no reason to believe that the Cavaliers cannot make another deep run in the playoffs. And if they can continue to play at the level they showed against Notre Dame, they could very well end up winning their seventh national championship.
