Pat Kavanagh was held in check for most of the game, but he saved his best for last.
Kavanagh ran from the right to the left side of the field and found an opening under duress of Brett Makar. The senior fired a shot that Brian Ruppel — after making multiple saves in the earlier overtime periods — could not get to.
The rest of the Fighting Irish streamed across the field to celebrate with Kavanagh as No. 2 Notre Dame (4-0) outlasted No. 4 Maryland men’s lacrosse (3-2), defeating the Terps, 13-12 in triple overtime.
“I mean [a] triple overtime game, there’s 100 plays in that game that go a little bit differently that would have made a difference for each team,” coach John Tillman said. “I got to do a better job of getting them ready.”
The top-five matchup lived up to its hype as the teams traded goals all afternoon, battling to the end as the game contained nine lead changes as neither side could go on a larger scoring run than three.
This was Maryland’s first triple overtime game since earning an 8-7 victory against Johns Hopkins in 2018, and its first overtime game since prevailing over Notre Dame in the 2021 NCAA Quarterfinals.
“It’s just typical Maryland-Notre Dame,” Tillman said. “It’s been a great series for us, some we’ve won some we’ve lost but that’s the nature of having good rivalries.”
The Terps started off fast after forcing a Notre Dame turnover. Junior attacker Owen Murphy scored the game’s first goal while on the run, shooting the ball into the left corner of the net giving the Terps the lead.
It was the first time all season the Fighting Irish found themselves trailing but they quickly responded, going on a 3-0 scoring run to take the lead midway through the first quarter on just three shots.
Sophomore attacker Chris Kavanagh scored the Fighting Irish’s second goal of the game, a low bouncer right in front of the net that landed in the top right corner of the net.
But Notre Dame suffered two penalties in the first quarter that Maryland took full advantage of, going on a 3-0 run of its own. Murphy scored a goal on each of the man-up opportunities, completing a hat trick just 13 minutes in.
The Terps ended the first quarter up 4-3 lead.
The older Kavanagh, an assist machine, recorded his first of the game early in the second quarter when he found graduate student midfielder Brian Tevlin, who scored his second of the game while on the run after finding an opening right in the front of the net to give the Fighting Irish the 5-4 lead.
Ruppel made his second career start and had a shaky one at that, allowing three goals in the first quarter on just five shots. But as the game progressed Ruppel started to look comfortable, making big plays down the stretch. He made three saves in the second quarter.
Neither side scored the rest of the half. During the 13:40 minute-plus scoring drought the teams combined for six turnovers and 17 shots.
At halftime, senior goalkeeper Liam Entenmann had recorded 10 saves as the Fighting Irish held the Terps offense scoreless in the second quarter, going into the break with 5-4 lead.
The scoreless drought quickly ended in the opening minute of the third quarter with redshirt senior midfielder Jack Brennnan scoring his second of goal of the day, finding open space to tie the game at five.
Sophomore attacker Eric Spanos gave Maryland the lead after Entenmann deflected his shot into the net. That lead lasted merely seconds as Notre Dame won the ensuing face-off and proceeded to go on another 3-0 scoring run.
The Terps responded with Spanos’ second goal of the game and sophomore attacker Zach Whittier’s first career goal to tie the game at eight. Spanos finished the game with his first career hat trick.
The teams traded goals some more until senior attacker Daniel Maltz scored twice late in the fourth quarter that gave Maryland a two-goal lead with 3:50 left. The Fighting Irish didn’t go away though, winning the last three face-offs of regulation which allowed them to tie the game again.
“Definitely [feels like a missed opportunity],” Maltz said. “Every week we practice up three goals with three minutes left or down three goals with three minutes left. I think we’re definitely prepared for it and that’s something we’re going to keep working on.”
On Notre Dame’s next possession the Terps’ defense forced the Fighting Irish into a shot clock violation but couldn’t find a good angle, sending the game to overtime knotted at 12.
Maryland’s offense sputtered in the extra periods, not finding any quality looks on the offensive end. Notre Dame’s sharp shooting continued with all four of its overtime shots on goal. Ruppel single handedly helped extend the game, making three saves over the first and second overtime periods, finishing the game with 12.
But in the third overtime period Ruppel ran out of magic as Kavanagh beat the freshman to add another legendary moment to his Notre Dame career.
