John McMackin, Staff Writer

Which team has a tradition of excellence, a stingy defense and a chance to play for the National Championship? No, I’m not talking about Irish Football—this is the Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse Team!

The team is currently 7-2 and ranked No. 4 in the USILA Coaches Poll and plans to only move higher after dropping from the top spot in the nation last week.

Men’s Lacrosse became a varsity sport at the University of Notre Dame in 1981 under then-head coach Rich O’Leary. The team played in the Midwest Club Lacrosse Association, and under coach O’Leary, they won five league championships. In an 8 year span, the team posted a 64-42 record for a .604 winning percentage.

In 1989, Kevin Corrigan took over at the helm and is now in his 25th season with the Irish. Over the course of Corrigan’s tenure, the team has claimed 16 conference titles and has secured a bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament 17 times, including a current streak of 7 straight appearances in the tournament. The team has played in the Final Four three times under coach Corrigan, and in 2010 the Irish were the NCAA Tournament Runner-up. The Irish have spent the last three seasons in the Big East Conference where they won the 2012 regular season championship. Before that, the team spent 17 seasons in the now extinct Great Western Lacrosse League. Under coach Corrigan, the Irish have gone 230-109 for a .678 winning percentage. For a sport that is dominated by Atlantic Coast Conference teams, the Irish of the Midwest sure have made a mark.

The Irish call Arlotta Stadium home. This 2000 capacity, state-of-the-art facility was opened in the fall of 2009 following a season in which five players were named All-Americans and the team ranked second in the country. Sporting All-American talent at Notre Dame is a new age Men’s Lacrosse tradition. Over the past 20 years, 32 Notre Dame players have been named All-Americans. These 32 players have earned a total of 56 All-American commendations.

The tradition of success for Notre Dame’s men’s lacrosse team is alive this year. With exciting wins over Duke, Penn State and North Carolina, the Irish are off to what looks to be another promising season. Defenseman and captain Matt Miller leads the team. He headlines a shutdown defense that finished last season ranked No. 1 in the country in terms of scoring defense.

Neither is the Irish offense too shabby. Currently, Notre Dame is averaging 10.44 goals per game—considerably higher than the 7.61 goals which opponents average against the Irish. This 7.61 goal average has Notre Dame ranked 10th in the nation in scoring defense.

The Irish are 2-2 at home with wins over North Carolina and Ohio State and losses to Hofstra and St. John’s. On the road, the Irish are undefeated with wins over Duke and Penn State.

The Irish travel to Providence in a Big East matchup against the Friars after starting Big East play on March 24. Be sure to make the trek out to Arlotta Stadium to cheer on the Irish throughout the home games of the season.

John McMackin is a First Year of Studies student and a Lacrosse enthusiast who has an awesome last name. You can contact him at jmcmack1@nd.edu.