Notre Dame men’s lacrosse on verge of back-to-back national titles after Final Four win over Denver

Notre Dame won 90.9 percent of the first half’s face offs and had nearly twice as many shot attempts, 20 to 12, as Denver through the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s national semifinal. For the No. 1 Fighting Irish, statistics like those have generally yielded comfortable leads — often times, insurmountable ones.

Not in the Final Four. Not against Denver, owner of the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense going in.

It was a one-goal game.

The No. 5 Pioneers were opportunistic offensively. Stingy defensively. Otherworldly between the pipes; the nation’s leader in goals against average, Malcolm Kleban, put on a show at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, stymying many of Notre Dame’s All-American attackmen.

None of it was enough for upset-minded Denver. Notre Dame was ultimately far too powerful over the course of four quarters, as the defending national champion has been for the better part of the last two seasons. Head coach Kevin Corrigan’s team woke up. Won face-offs — 18 of them on 23 tries, all fought for by the indomitable Will Lynch. Scored in transition. Came up with timely stops. Poured it on.

Broke Denver’s will.

The Irish (15-1) pushed past the Pioneers, 13-6, with an emphatically played — near perfectly played —second half to secure a spot in Monday’s national title game. They’re going to their second-straight championship and will face the winner of No. 6 Virginia and No. 7 Maryland.

“It goes back to the selfless culture we have,” Lynch said. “When you’re a part of a group like this every day that really just puts their nose down and grinds, I think the culture we’ve built the last three years is something super special.”

Denver (13-4) got the scoring started, taking a 1-0 lead four minutes into the matchup. Notre Dame’s Kavanagh brothers, Chris and Pat, got the next three — two for the former and one for the latter. The Pioneers tied the Irish once at 3-3, but they never led again after their inaugural tally.

The Kavanaghs — both of whom had hat tricks — and the Irish’s other five goal scorers wouldn’t let them.

Jake Taylor and Jordan Faison made sure Notre Dame had a 5-4 lead at halftime. Pat Kavanagh lasered home the first goal of the second half. Devon McLane, Eric Dobson and Chris Kavanagh closed the third quarter with three unanswered.

All season long, Notre Dame has gone at its opponent in waves. Despite battling through sloppy, self-inflicted turnovers, questionable calls and Denver’s rough and tough defense in the first half, the No. 1 team in the land eventually found itself and played its best brand of lacrosse in a pivotal third frame.

That went for two-time National Goalie of the Year Liam Entenmann, too. He looked more mortal than usual at times, and that allowed Denver to hang around for a while. Then he made 5 saves in the third quarter alone after having 6 at halftime. Kleban didn’t make his first save of the second half until the first minute of the fourth quarter.

When the Irish needed Entenmann to be Entenmann, he was. The Kavanaghs steadied the ship all day. Lynch was undeniable at the “X.” Devon McLane netted a second-half hat trick.

Notre Dame was Notre Dame. And if that’s the case one more time, a second national title banner in as many years might be on the way to South Bend.

“To be able to live your dream out right here with a group that battles every day, there is nothing better than that,” Lynch said.