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Notre Dame looks like Notre Dame again. After a 9-5 record — its most losses since 2019 — and NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal exit in 2025, ND looks to return to its regal best. This year, the Fighting Irish appear to be back to the form that led them to national championships in 2023 and 2024.

ND has the results and recent form to prove it, knocking off the No. 1 ranked teams in consecutive weeks to begin April.

Syracuse, on the other hand, is firmly a top-five team, having beaten No. 7 Johns Hopkins and No. 8 Virginia by four goals each. However, the Orange haven’t proven they can defeat the elite, falling to No. 3 North Carolina on April 4 and No. 2 Princeton on Feb. 27.

In Syracuse’s nonconference finale — a 14-7 victory over Colgate Saturday — Joey Spallina set the program points record and the Orange built confidence heading into the final stretch of their season. With that rhythm, SU can secure a statement win in a place it hasn’t won since 2017.

Here’s everything you need to know about No. 1 Notre Dame (9-1, 2-1 ACC) before its ACC regular-season finale matchup versus No. 5 Syracuse (11-3, 2-1 ACC) Saturday:

All-time series

Syracuse leads 12-11.

Last time they played

The Orange had Notre Dame’s number last year, beating it twice. The last time the two ACC giants met was in the ACC Tournament Semifinal, when No. 4 seed SU upset No. 1 seed ND 14-12. The score indicates a tighter contest than it actually was. The Fighting Irish scored two cosmetic goals in the final 30 seconds. The damage was already done.

SU attack Owen Hiltz produced a team-high five goals, but the real difference was at the faceoff X, where Syracuse’s John Mullen won 21-of-26 draws. In net, goalie Jimmy McCool turned in a career-high 20 saves on a .625 save percentage. Syracuse’s well-rounded performance allowed it to snap a then-three-game losing run and send it into the conference championship game, which it won.

The Fighting Irish report

Notre Dame’s down 2025 season seemed to mark the end of a dynastic run. When the Fighting Irish’s season ended versus No. 5 seed Penn State in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, prolific attack Chris Kavanagh’s collegiate career ended. It concluded a five-year run of ND’s offense being led by Chris or his older brother Pat, who rank third and first in program career points, respectively. Jake Taylor, who spent six years in South Bend, also departed.

But ND hasn’t skipped a beat. It’s back to the top of the collegiate rankings. That’s courtesy of some terrific returners, a high-impact transfer and the country’s best recruiting class. Reigning William C. Schmeisser Co-Defensive Player of the Year Shawn Lyght helms the backline in his junior year and continues to erase opponents’ No. 1 option.

On the attacking end, head coach Kevin Corrigan earned the commitment of Air Force transfer Josh Yago. The attack has hit the ground running, leading the team with 20 goals in 10 games.

ND’s freshmen have also proved themselves early in their careers. Dylan Faison, the brother of Jordan, who played lacrosse at Notre Dame for two years before focusing on football, scored twice in the Fighting Irish’s one-goal win over Duke Saturday. First-year faceoff man Aidan Diaz-Matos has won 54.3% of his draws, while attack Teddy Lally has pitched in 10 goals.

The results have been impressive. After losing 11-9 at Virginia, the Fighting Irish flattened then-No. 1 Richmond in Evanston, Illinois. ND led 8-0 after one quarter and ended the game with a 12-8 win. The next week, Notre Dame crushed the No. 1 team again. This time, it was a 10-5 victory against North Carolina.

How Syracuse beats Notre Dame

It won’t be easy for the Orange to overcome the Fighting Irish — especially on the road — but an upset victory for SU begins in net, like it did the last time these two teams played. McCool has been in fine form after he was benched at North Carolina, rattling off save percentages above 55% in his last two outings. While ND has attacking weapons and will get looks, the game may come down to McCool snuffing out some key opportunities.

And Syracuse might need to punch above its weight at the faceoff dot. It’s been a down year for Mullen — his winning percentage has fallen from 63.0% last year to 53.2%. However, in a likely tight game, possessions will be paramount. ND doesn’t boast the best faceoff corps in the country, so a possession battle may ensue.

Once the Orange have the ball, it’ll be a question of if Spallina can make an impact against Lyght. Spallina scored four times in the regular season last year. He may need to replicate that Saturday to give Syracuse a chance at an upset.

Stat to know: 69th

Notre Dame’s one glaring weakness may be its man-down defense. It’s so disciplined that it’s allowed the sixth-fewest opponent man-up opportunities, but the Fighting Irish have the 69th-best man-down defense of 75 Division I teams. They concede goals on 52.4% of opponents’ extra-man opportunities.

Syracuse is 15th nationally in man-up offense, converting on 45.8% of its man-up chances. So, though the man-up opportunities may be rare versus ND, the Orange will have a good chance of capitalizing on any that they get.

Player to watch: Thomas Ricciardelli, goalie, No. 1

The man backstopping the Fighting Irish’s third-best scoring defense in the country is goalie Thomas Ricciardelli. The netminder has been in fine form during ACC play, averaging 14.25 saves per game in his last four outings. He’s held opponents in single digits in all but one of his games. Even then, that was 11 goals against Virginia in Notre Dame’s sole loss. In his most recent outing, he compiled a season-high 17 saves in a one-goal win at Duke.

The senior is near the top of the charts in every key goalkeeping statistic. He’s second in goals against average at 7.75 and in save percentage at .606 in the nation. The New Canaan, Connecticut, native has lived up to the billing as the Inside Lacrosse’s No. 4 overall recruit in the 2022 class, the top goalie in that group.

Published on April 22, 2026 at 11:35 pm
Contact Nicholas: njalumka@syr.edu | @nalumkal