For the first time this season, the Notre Dame Women’s Lacrosse took their game outside to Arlotta Stadium on Sunday. Though the weather was sunny, the wind blowing into the stadium made it feel rather cold. Regardless, it was just good to be outside and watching sports being played on campus. As all the winter sports draw to a close, the thought of spring sports feels kinda good.
First Half
As the old saying goes, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” and that can be resonated about Sunday’s game against the Buckeyes. The Irish have started fast in all of their games, but Sunday was a little different. The Buckeyes came to play and it showed. An early turnover by Madison Ahern, the ground ball pickup by Jill Rizzo of OSU, Liza Hernandez got her shot past Bridget Deehan to put OSU on the board first. But the lead for OSU did not last long. Kasey Choma did what she does best and that’s putting the ball on net. The goal ties the game at one all. The tie didn’t last long either. Choma again puts the ball on net and gives the Irish their first lead of the day.
The Irish and the Buckeyes went back and forth in the first half. The Irish just couldn’t wear down the Buckeyes. OSU score twice in the span of 1:11 to go ahead 3-2. At 18:49 Samantha Lynch on the free position shot scores to tie the game at 3-3. Shortly after that Andie Aldave scores at 18:05 on the free position shot as well to go up 4-3. At 15:37 Choma does it again, this time it’s for a Hat Trick as she puts the Irish up 5-4.
OSU’s Hernandez was a pain in the for the Irish. She netted her Hat Trick at 8:58. Every time Choma scored, it seemed that Hernandez returned the favor. Like clock work Choma scored her fourth goal right after Hernandez, to put the Irish up 6-5. To close out the half, Madison Ahern scored at 0:19 to give the Irish a 7-5 lead at the half.
Second Half
Out of the locker room, Choma picked up where she left off. Choma at 25:56 put the ball in the back of the net to get put the Irish up 8-5 and their largest lead of the day. Jessi Masinko wanted in on the scoring actionas well. At 0:29 after Choma, Masinko’s goal puts the Irish up 9-5 at 25:27. Choma wasn’t done yet. Goal six goes on net as she fired from inside space and the balls blows by Rizzo. That goal by Choma was number thirteen of the young season. The Buckeyes simply had no answer for her.
The goals came fast and quick for the Irish Erin McBride put the Irish up 11-5 at 21:13 and Andie Aldave scored her Hat Trick 0:24 later to pad the lead by seven for a score of 12-5. Deehan allowed the first Buckeye goal of the second half at 19:46. Samantha Lynch contributed with her goal at 16:47, Massinko got her second goal of the day at 14:08 to go up 14-6. Andie Aldave got her fourth goal of the day at 11:39 to run the score to 15-6. Lynch wanted a Hat Trick as well. At 9:09 it happened and the Irish go up 16-6. Madison Ahern got her goal at 2:27 for an Irish score of 17-7. With all her teammates scoring, Katie Enrietto scores with 1:01 on the clock to give the Irish a final score of 18-7.
Players Of The Game
🥍🥍 🥍 Andie Aldave 4 Goals, 1 Assist, 4 Ground Balls
🥍 🥍 Bridget Deehan 9 Saves, .563 PCT, 3 Ground Balls
🥍 Kasey Choma 6 Goals, 1 Ground Ball, 3 Draw Controls
Wrap Up
The first wasn’t the Irish start to a game this season. But the halftime adjustments made by Coach Christine Halfpenny was enough to invigorate the Fightin’ Irish in the second half. Goalie Deehan saw sixteen shots on goal saving nine of them. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and the Irish finished very strong.
Next up the ND Women’s Lacrosse is Duke. The game is Sunday at 1 P.M. at the Loftus Sports Center. This is the opening game of the ACC Conference schedule. Get out there and cheer on your Irish!
Cheers and Go Irish!🍀🥍⚡