Notre Dame Women’s Lacrosse: Maddie Howe’s Amazing Freshman Season

“‘Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but death and taxes,” wrote Christopher Bullock in his farce, “The Cobbler of Preston.”

Bullock didn’t live to see Maddie Howe, the epitome of consistent effort during Notre Dame women’s lacrosse 2018 season.

The freshman midfielder from Fairport, N.Y. has scored at least one goal in 13 of the Irish’s 15 games. Howe has scored multiple goals in nine of those games, including a recent stretch of three goals (in a April 3 win against Michigan), four goals (in an April 8 loss to Northwestern) and four goals (in a Sunday win against Duke).

A SURPRISE LEADER OF THE FRESHMAN CLASS

While it may be little surprise that someone from the Irish’s freshman class — ranked fifth nationally by Inside Lacrosse — has become the team’s standout player, Howe would have been one of the most unlikeliest guesses before the season commenced.

It was fellow midfielder Andie Aldave who Inside Lacrosse tabbed as the nation’s top prospect. The Catonsville, Md. product has acquitted herself well -- the team’s leader in draw controls (ranked #23 nationally), second on the team in goals and third overall in points.

The lacrosse website and magazine also ranked midfielder Kaci Messier (Victor, N.Y.) as the class’ 30th best prospect; goaltender Bridget Deehan (Alpharetta, Ga.) as its 47th best player and defensewoman Lizzy Doherty and midfielder Diana Kelly (both from Chatham, N.J.) on its watchlist.

Of those, Kelly has been the only one to see the field in all 15 games — earning four starts. Messier and Deehan have played in half of the games, while Doherty has just appeared once.

Inside Lacrosse’s underrating of Howe may have to do with the two ACL tears she sustained during her high school career.

The first — a tear of her ACL and meniscus damage to her left knee — happened during a July 2014 tournament in Baldwinsville, N.Y. The second — in her right knee — occurred during a July 2016 tournament...in Baldwinsville.

Howe committed to the Irish during the Christmas after her first tear over offers from North Carolina, Northwestern and Boston College — who the Irish play annually. She told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle that her subsequent sophomore slump was a “frustrating” byproduct of being “incapable of physically doing some things.”

Her bounce-back was bad news for Fairport’s opponents in Section V, Class A. Howe led her team with 58 goals, 71 points and 83 draw controls, earning the Democrat & Chronicle’s “All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year” as a junior in 2016.

Howe’s second injury curtailed the start of her senior season, but she still managed to earn her fifth selection to the all-county first team after leading her team in draw controls and ground balls, receive U.S. Lacrosse All-American honors and maintain a 96 average in her classes.

AMONG GOOD COMPANY

Howe’s 140th place rank in points per game among NCAA players this year belies how extraordinary her season has been in the annals of Notre Dame history.

Among freshman scoring leaders, Howe’s season is currently fourth best all-time. The three names ahead of her: Jillian Byers, who went on to become the most decorated player in the history of the program; Cortney Fortunato, who is second all-time in points and Shaylyn Blaney, who finished third all-time in goals scored.

Howe and Notre Dame will play the University of Albany at 1 p.m. Wednesday on John Fallon Field. The Great Dane are 6-7 on the season, but have won six straight contests.