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MLAX: No. 1 Notre Dame beats Albany in NCAA Tournament's first round after first half scare

Tyler James

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Staff
Dec 31, 2021
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No. 1 Notre Dame will start its NCAA Tournament run shortly (5 p.m. EDT on ESPNU) against Albany at home in Arlotta Stadium.

The Irish (12-1) are looking to defend last year's national championship, the first in program history.

Notre Dame has won 10 straight since its only loss of the season on Feb. 25 to Georgetown, 11-10 in overtime. If the Irish win, they will meet Georgetown again in the quarterfinals.

Alabany advanced to play against Notre Dame by defeating Sacred Heart, 13-7, on Wednesday night.

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GAME RECAP

NDMLAX_ABLANY_NCAA_00149-fotor-2024051315835.jpg

Photo credit: Jeff Myers/ND Athletics
Pictured: Will Lynch (22)


Albany came to play Sunday in Arlotta Stadium.

The underdog Great Danes put No. 1 overall seed Notre Dame into a halftime deficit for just the third time this season.

But Notre Dame established its dominance in the second half for a 14-9 victory in the NCAA Tournament's first round. The Irish used a 10-4 margin in the second half to advance to the quarterfinals for a rematch with No. 8 seed Georgetown, the only team to beat the Irish this season.

Albany jumped out to a 5-4 halftime lead thanks to 11 Notre Dame turnovers and a strong start by freshman goaltender Landon Whitney, who saved five shots in the first half. The Great Danes also cashed in two extra-man opportunities in the first two quarters.

Notre Dame kicked its offense into gear in the third quarter and scored the next four goals to take an 8-5 lead. Albany responded with a goal by Graydon Hogg, but that's all it could muster in the third quarter. Notre Dame scored once more in the third and the first two goals in the fourth to open up a five-score lead for the first time.

After a Chris Kavanagh penalty led to an Albany goal on an extra-man advantage, the Irish bounced back with goals by Jake Taylor and Pat Kavanagh to create a comfortable 13-7 lead with 9:17 left.

The Kavanagh brothers each scored five points in the Irish victory. Pat Kavanagh, a grad senior, scored three goals and added two assists. Chris Kavanagh, a junior, assisted on four goals and scored a goal of his own.

Devon McLane led Notre Dame with four goals. Taylor also registered a hat trick.

Notre Dame goalie Liam Entenmann, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, saved six shots with nine goals allowed for a save percentage of 40%, which tied his worst mark of the season. He's saved at least 50% of the shots on goal he's faced in nine games this season.

Georgetown (13-3) advanced into the quarterfinals with a 12-9 victory over Penn State on Sunday. The Hoyas beat Notre Dame in overtime, 11-10, in South Bend on Feb. 25. The Irish have won 11 games since then.

The two teams will meet Saturday in James M. Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
 
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