The Week in Notre Dame Athletics: ‘Tis the Spring Season

Without further ado, we bring you the results of the last week's Irish match-ups.

_____

Irish hockey (17-17-5, 12-8-5) won 2 of 3 in a historic 3-game Hockey East conference tournament series this past weekend vs. UMass, allowing them to advance to the tournament semifinals. Friday night, the Irish played the longest hockey game in NCAA history vs. the Minutemen, ultimately falling, 4-3, despite goalie Cal Peterson's record 87 saves.

The game started at 7:30 p.m. Friday night and ended around 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning in a 5^th overtime period.

Somehow, the teams re-convened for a second match Saturday evening, which the Irish claimed, 5-3.

On Sunday, Notre Dame overwhelmed their opponent, taking a huge 7-0 win, clinching the series, and securing their spot in the semifinals.

Happily, ndistops has the game-by-game breakdown for you right here.

Now on to the Hockey East tournament semifinals. Notre Dame next faces the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, this Friday (7:15 p.m. ET) and Saturday (TBA) and, should a tie-breaker be needed, Sunday.

_____

Baseball (11-3) went 1-2 over the past week, dropping their 3-game road series with Georgia Tech to open ACC play. The Irish bested the Yellow Jackets in their opening game, 3-2, then lost the follow-up, 11-7; Georgia Tech claimed the rubber match on Sunday, 4-1, behind great pitching.

The Irish next travel to Savannah, GA, where they'll face Savannah State this Wednesday (5:00 p.m. ET, WatchND). Friday, they'll battle Clemson on the road (6:30 p.m. ET, WatchND); the pair will meet again Sunday afternoon (1:00 p.m. ET, WatchND).

It's Sunday so that means the Irish are wearing their green unis! Rubber game against Georgia Tech. 1 pm on ESPN3. pic.twitter.com/MsPOE8liS8

— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) March 8, 2015

_____

No. 23 softball (12-9) suffered a disappointing weekend sweep at the hands of North Carolina State, dropping their games by scores of 4-2, 9-2, and 8-3.

This Tuesday, the Irish travel to Bules Creek, NC, to face Campbell. Wednesday, they'll face North Carolina Central in Durham. Friday and Sunday, it's FSU in Tallahassee, FL.

_____

Irish fencing competed in the NCAA Midwest Regional Qualifier in Evanston, IL, this past Saturday and qualified the maximum of 12 entrants to this month's NCAA Championships. The Irish finished 2^nd and 3^rd in women's sabre and 2^nd and 4^th in men's sabre. They earned 1^st (that'd be Lee Kiefer), 3^rd, and 6^th in women's foil, as well as 2^nd, 3^rd, and 6^th in men's foil. They also earned 2^nd, 4^th, and 5^th in women's epee and 2^nd, 6^th, and 8^th on the men's side.

The NCAA Championships begin next week on March 19^th in Columbus, OH.

_____

No. 3 men's lacrosse (3-1) fell to no. 4 Denver in overtime over the weekend, 11-10. The Irish earned a 10-7 lead going into the 4^th period, but the score was tied at 10-10 as regulation time expired. Matt Kavanagh again led Notre Dame with 4 goals and 2 assists, but his team was outshot, 39-24, beaten in the faceoff battle, 16-7, and ultimately, just barely, outscored.

Look for a game recap and preview of the team's next match from Paul Rigney later this week at OFD.

The Irish next play Virginia on the road this Saturday at noon ET (ESPNU).

_____

No. 16 women's lacrosse (3-3, 0-2) dropped their weekend road match to no. 4 Boston College, 15-6, a week after falling to no. 5 Duke. A bright spot against two very tough opponents: Courtney Fortunato earned a hat trick in both matches for ND.

This Tuesday evening, the Irish travel to New York to play Stony Brook. Saturday, they'll host Virginia Tech (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3).

_____

No. 23 men's tennis fell in a very close match to no. 44 Virginia Tech, 4-3, last Friday in their ACC opener. They then dropped their Sunday match with no. 33 Louisville, 5-2. The Irish next host Boston College and Detroit this Sunday.

The no. 26 women's squad was idle this past week. The Irish next face East Carolina and Florida Gulf Coast this Tuesday, then host North Carolina on Friday. Sunday, they host Boston College.

_____

No. 24 track & field were idle after placing 3^rd (women) and 12^th (men) overall in the ACC Championships the week before last. The Irish next compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships beginning this Friday in Fayetteville, AR.

_____

Men's swimming and diving was idle this past week. The NCAA Zone C Diving Meet begins this Thursday, followed by the NCAA Championships at the end of the month.

The women's team was also idle this past week. The team's divers next travel to Columbus, OH, for the NCAA Zone C Meet beginning this Thursday. The NCAA Championships run from March 19-21 in Greensboro, NC.

_____

Women's golf was idle this past week. They next travel to Mesa, AZ, for the Clover Cup beginning this Friday.

Men's golf competed in the Lamkin San Diego Classic this Monday and Tuesday; we'll bring you their results next week. They'll travel to Naples, FL, for the Talis Park Challenge beginning this Sunday.

_____

After clinching the ACC regular season title, no. 2 women's basketball (31-2, 18-1 ACC) won their way through the ACC tournament this past weekend, earning their 3^rd consecutive conference tournament championship. In their quarterfinals match last Friday, the Irish overwhelmed Miami, 77-61, with 5 players scoring in double-digits and Brianna Turner earning a double-double.

Saturday, they edged their way past no. 16 Duke, 55-49, in a fairly tight game led by Jewell Loyd, her 21 points, and a few crucial offensive rebounds.

They then blasted no. 7 Florida State on Sunday for the 71-58 tournament victory. Again, Loyd led the way, this time with 18 points and a defended tournament MVP title. Forward Taya Reimer had 16 points for ND and Madison Cable and Brianna Turner both scored in double-digits.

After enjoying a well-earned week off, the Irish next begin NCAA tournament play on Friday, March 20^th at a time and place to be announced. This year's Final Four will convene in Tampa, FL, and determine the national champion on Sunday, April 5^th and Tuesday, April 7^th.

_____

No. 12 men's basketball (26-4, 14-3 ACC) bested Louisville, 71-59, then defeated Clemson, 81-67, in their final regular season home game this past week. Our recap and analysis of the Louisville win is right here and our breakdown of the Clemson victory is right here.

They next travel to Greensboro, NC, on Thursday night to face a to-be-determined ACC conference tournament opponent (9:00 p.m. ET, WatchND, ESPN). If they advance, they'll face their next opponent on Friday night (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2, WatchND), then Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, WatchND).

_____

Irish rowing hits the water once again this weekend at the Oak Ridge/Cardinal Invitational in Oak Ridge, TN.

We'll bring you updates again next week on how Notre Dame's Olympic sports are faring. For now, go Irish. Beat everybody.