The Week in Notre Dame Athletics: 6 Top-20 Sports In Season

Notre Dame currently has an impressive 6 top-20 teams among its ranks. Without further ado, we bring you the results of the last week's Irish match-ups.

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After a grueling series to open Hockey East tournament play, Irish hockey (18-19-5, 13-10-5) lost in the tournament quarterfinals to UMass Lowell. Over the weekend, Notre Dame faced the River Hawks on the road, dropping their first game, 5-0, winning their second, 4-2, then falling on Sunday night in the deciding match, 6-4. Ndistops has the game-by-game breakdown with video highlights for you right here.

With that, the Irish are done for the season. It was tough, but good, with moments of brilliance and increasingly strong performances by so many. On to next year.

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No. 22 baseball (11-3) went 3-1 over the past week, besting Savannah State, 5-3, before claiming their first ACC series victory vs. Clemson. The Irish fell to Clemson in their opening game, 6-1, but then won the follow-up, 11-6, and the rubber match, 5-1.

The Irish next host Central Michigan this Wednesday in their first home game of the year (6:05 p.m. ET, WatchND). Friday, they'll battle Louisville at home (6:05 p.m. ET, WatchND); the pair will meet again Saturday afternoon (2:05 p.m. ET, WatchND) and Sunday afternoon (1:05 p.m. ET, WatchND).

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Softball (15-11) went 3-2 over the past week, starting things off with a 4-3 win over Campbell. They then bested North Carolina Central, 9-0, before dropping their weekend road series with no, 9/10 Florida State. FSU claimed game one, 4-1, and game two, 7-3, but Notre Dame's Rachel Nasland pitched a solo no-hitter in a 12-0 Irish shut-out victory on Sunday.

This Wednesday, the Irish host Cleveland State in their home opener (4:30 p.m. ET, WatchND). Saturday, they'll face Georgia Tech at home in a double-header (1:00 and 3:00 p.m. ET, WatchND). The team hosts Georgia Tech on Sunday at noon.

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No. 4 men's lacrosse (4-1) overcame no. 7 Virginia on Saturday, 11-9, to open ACC competition. Virginia threatened after Notre Dame pulled way out ahead with a 7-0 lead in the 2^nd quarter, bringing the score to 9-6 in the 4^th and to 11-9 with just 3 minutes to spare; however, the Irish held on for the win behind 5 goals from freshman Mikey Wynne and 3 from Conor Doyle.

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 Ohio State at home this Saturday afternoon (4:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU). Happily, we can expect to see the new shiny gold men's lacrosse helmet, which has been a long time coming:

"Coming this Saturday. @Head_Wrapz Magic. @NDLaxExperience @CascadeLacrosse @espnu pic.twitter.com/ssPPGm5An6"

— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) March 16, 2015

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No. 17 women's lacrosse (4-4, 1-2) earned a 15-8 win over Virginia Tech this past weekend. Sophomore attacker Courtney Fortunato shone again for the Irish, scoring 8 of the team's goals and setting a school home game record with that number.

This Saturday, the Irish host Ohio State (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3).

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No. 36 men's tennis earned two wins this past Sunday, besting both Boston College, 7-0, and Detroit, 6-1, at home. The Irish next host no. 34 Texas Tech this Tuesday evening (5:30 p.m. ET, WatchND). Friday, they host Virginia (3:30 p.m. ET, WatchND), and Sunday, they host Georgia Tech at noon.

The no. 28 women's squad went an impressive 3-0 this past week, beating East Carolina, 4-0, North Carolina, 5-2, and Boston College, 5-2, during their homestead. The Irish next face Florida State in Tallahassee, FL, this Friday afternoon. Sunday, they play Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA.

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Members of the Irish track & field team competed in the NCAA Indoor Championships this past weekend. Molly Seidel (6^th in the 5,000m), Margaret Bamgbose (6^th in the 400m), and the women's distance medley relay team (8^th) earned first-team All-American honors. A number of other athletes earned second-team All-American honors.

Track & field now shifts its attention to the outdoor season, which begins at the end of the month.

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Divers from men's swimming and diving competed in the NCAA Zone C Diving Meet this past weekend. Joseph Coumos qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 3m dive, and will compete in the platform, 1m, and 3m events at the NCAAs. The NCAA Championships are at the end of the month and the Irish will compete in the 200 medley relay, 800 free relay, 500 free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 and 200 fly, 100 and 200 breast, and 200 back, as well as in the diving events.

The divers from the women's team competed in the NCAA Zone C Meet beginning last Thursday. Lindsey Streepey came in 9^th on the platform dive, just missing out on qualifying for the NCAA Championships (mind you, this is an event Irish divers can't even practice at Notre Dame, which doesn't have a platform tower). She also placed 10^th on the 3m dive, again missing the cut-off for NCAA qualification by one spot. Allison Casareto did qualify and will compete in the 1m and 3m dives at the NCAAs; she earned 8^th in the 3m and 9^th in the 1m events.

One of the team's swimmers, Emma Reaney, will compete in the NCAA Championships from this Thursday through Saturday in Greensboro, NC, in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 200 IM.

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No. 32 women's golf hosted the Clover Cup in Mesa, AZ, this past weekend. The team came in 2^nd overall in a field of 15, with 3 individuals placing in the top 15. The team earned a score of 32-over par across 3 rounds (896), 11 strokes behind no. 26 Arizona State (885). Notre Dame next heads to the LSU Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, LA, at the end of the month.

Men's golf competed in the Lamkin San Diego Classic early last week, placing 12^th overall against a very strong field of 14. They then competed in the Talis Park Challenge this past weekend where they earned a 10^th-place finish in a tight field of 15, 4 strokes out of 5^th place. The Irish next compete in the Mason Rudolph Invitational in Nashville in early April.

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No. 12 Irish rowing hit the water for the first time in 2015 this past weekend at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational. Notre Dame earned 8 runner-up finishes and 1 victory from their first varsity 8 against 9 opponents, a number of them ranked.

Up next for ND is the Big 10-ACC Double Duel at the end of the month in Columbus, OH.

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No. 2 fencing was idle this past week. The NCAA Championships begin this Thursday in Columbus, OH, and the maximum of 12 members of the team will compete there.

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After clinching the ACC regular season title and the conference championship, no. 2 women's basketball (31-2, 18-1 ACC) has earned a top seed for the NCAA tournament. The Irish begin NCAA tournament play on Friday when they host Montana in the 1^st round (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2). 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.

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No. 8 men's basketball (29-5, 17-3) WON THE ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP this past weekend, just in case you missed that somehow. Notre Dame took down Miami, 70-63, Duke, 74-64, and North Carolina, 90-82, to do it. We're lucky to have a ton of awesome basketball coverage for you this season. Our recap and analysis of the Miami win is right here and our breakdown of the Duke victory is right here. Read up on the championship win vs. North Carolina here and enjoy a photo gallery from the game right here.

They begin play in the NCAA tournament this Thursday vs. Northeastern in Pittsburgh (12:15 p.m. ET, CBS).

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