How will the ACC reclaim its throne in college lacrosse. What are the expectations for Duke, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. How can these teams improve their performance in the 2023 season.
Duke Blue Devils: High Expectations and Offensive Firepower
The Duke Blue Devils enter the 2023 season with their usual high expectations: perform at an elite level, clinch the ACC title, and secure a spot in the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. With a 2022 season record of 11-6, Duke aims to build on their success and overcome recent challenges.
Key Players to Watch
- Brennan O’Neill (53 goals, 21 assists) – Second Team USILA All-American
- Dyson Williams (43 goals, 9 assists) – Led the nation in overall shooting percentage
- Tyler Carpenter (67 ground balls, 3 goals, 2 assists) – Experienced defensive leader
Duke’s offensive prowess is undeniable, with returning stars like Brennan O’Neill and Dyson Williams leading the charge. O’Neill’s Second Team USILA All-American status and Williams’ nation-leading shooting percentage provide a solid foundation for the Blue Devils’ attack.
Defensive Challenges and Opportunities
While the offense looks strong, Duke faces a new challenge in the goalkeeper position. The team will rely on experienced defensive players like Tyler Carpenter to support and guide the new netminder as they adjust to their starting role. This transition period may lead to some growing pains, but it also presents an opportunity for the defense to strengthen its cohesion.
Avoiding Early Season Setbacks
A critical focus for Duke in the 2023 season is to avoid “bad” losses early in the year. Historically, the Blue Devils have often stumbled against lesser opponents, which can prove costly in the increasingly competitive landscape of ACC lacrosse. With fewer NCAA tournament bids going to the conference in recent years, Duke cannot afford any blemishes on their record if they hope to secure a tournament spot.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Defensive Dominance and Offensive Evolution
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, coming off an 8-4 season in 2022, look to build on their reputation as a Midwest powerhouse in college lacrosse. Known for their formidable defense, Notre Dame aims to maintain their defensive strength while evolving their offensive capabilities.
Defensive Anchor: Liam Entenmann
At the heart of Notre Dame’s defensive prowess is senior goaltender Liam Entenmann. With a .573 save percentage in the 2022 season, Entenmann has been a consistent force in the net for the Fighting Irish. As he enters his final collegiate season, expectations are high for another All-American caliber performance that could propel Notre Dame towards an NCAA tournament bid.
Offensive Leaders: The Kavanagh Brothers
- Pat Kavanagh (25 goals, 39 assists)
- Chris Kavanagh (22 goals, 11 assists)
On the offensive end, brothers Pat and Chris Kavanagh are poised to lead the charge for Notre Dame. As the team’s top scorers in 2022, the Kavanaghs will need to elevate their game further to boost the Fighting Irish’s offensive output. After narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament last year despite a strong finish to the season, Notre Dame recognizes the need for increased scoring, particularly against tougher opponents.
Balancing Defense and Offense
While Notre Dame’s defensive reputation remains strong, the team’s focus for 2023 will be on finding the right balance between their stalwart defense and an evolving offense. The Fighting Irish understand that while defense may win championships, a potent offense is crucial for keeping them competitive in high-stakes matchups.
North Carolina Tar Heels: Rebuilding and Redefining
The North Carolina Tar Heels face a challenging 2023 season as they look to rebound from a disappointing 8-6 record in 2022. With the departure of key players and a 1-5 conference play record, UNC is focused on rebuilding and redefining their identity within the ACC.
Notable Departures
- Chris Gray (48 goals, 32 assists)
- Jacob Kelly (20 goals, 15 assists)
The loss of offensive powerhouses Chris Gray and Jacob Kelly leaves a significant void in the Tar Heels’ attack. UNC will need to quickly establish a new offensive identity to remain competitive in the conference.
Areas for Improvement
In the 2022 season, North Carolina faced several challenges:
- They were outscored by their opponents
- Accumulated more penalties
- Demonstrated lower efficiency compared to their rivals
Addressing these issues will be crucial for the Tar Heels’ success in 2023. The team must focus on disciplined play, improved scoring efficiency, and overall team coordination to climb back up the conference rankings.
Goaltending Focus
A key area of concern for UNC is their goaltending performance. Goalkeeper Collin Krieg has seen a decline in save percentage over his tenure as a starter. For the Tar Heels to avoid the blowout conference losses experienced last year, they must find stability and improvement in the net. This could involve working closely with Krieg to reverse the trend or potentially exploring other options within their roster.
ACC Lacrosse: Reclaiming Conference Dominance
The Atlantic Coast Conference has long been considered one of the premier conferences in college lacrosse. However, the 2022 season saw a step back in the ACC’s dominance, with only Virginia securing a spot in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse National Tournament. As the 2023 season approaches, the conference is poised to reclaim its throne at the top of the lacrosse world.
Factors Contributing to ACC’s Recent Struggles
- Increased competition from other conferences
- Inconsistent performances from traditionally strong programs
- Fewer NCAA tournament bids allocated to the conference
To regain its status as the premier lacrosse conference, ACC teams must focus on consistency, particularly in non-conference play. Strong performances against out-of-conference opponents will be crucial in securing additional NCAA tournament bids for the ACC.
Emerging Talents and Players to Watch
While established stars like Brennan O’Neill and the Kavanagh brothers are expected to shine, the 2023 season presents opportunities for new talents to emerge across ACC lacrosse. Keep an eye on underclassmen and players stepping into larger roles, as their performances could significantly impact their teams’ success.
Potential Breakout Players
- Rising sophomores and juniors looking to make their mark
- Transfer students bringing fresh talent to ACC programs
- Defensive specialists stepping up to fill gaps left by graduating seniors
These emerging players will be crucial in shaping the narrative of the 2023 ACC lacrosse season and could potentially alter the balance of power within the conference.
The Impact of Coaching and Strategy
In the highly competitive world of ACC lacrosse, coaching strategies and adaptability play a significant role in team success. As teams like North Carolina look to rebuild and others aim to maintain their dominance, the impact of coaching decisions will be more important than ever.
Key Coaching Considerations for 2023
- Adapting to rule changes and evolving gameplay styles
- Developing effective game plans against both conference and non-conference opponents
- Managing player rotations and development to optimize team performance
Coaches who can successfully navigate these challenges and bring out the best in their players will give their teams a significant advantage in the race for ACC supremacy and NCAA tournament bids.
The Role of Non-Conference Play in ACC Success
While conference matchups often garner the most attention, the importance of non-conference play cannot be overstated for ACC lacrosse teams. Strong performances against out-of-conference opponents can bolster a team’s resume for NCAA tournament consideration and help elevate the conference’s overall standing in college lacrosse.
Benefits of Strong Non-Conference Performance
- Improved national rankings and recognition
- Increased chances of securing at-large bids to the NCAA tournament
- Opportunities to test strategies and player combinations against diverse opponents
ACC teams must approach their non-conference schedules with the same intensity and focus as their conference matchups to maximize their chances of postseason success and help restore the ACC’s reputation as the premier lacrosse conference.
As the 2023 season unfolds, all eyes will be on the ACC to see how its teams respond to the challenges ahead. With a mix of established powerhouses and programs looking to rebound, the conference is poised for an exciting and competitive season that could reshape the landscape of college lacrosse.
ACC Lacrosse 2023 Conference Preview
The ACC in years past has been arguably the best conference in college lacrosse. Last year, the ACC took a step backwards as Virginia was the only team to make the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse National Tournament. The 2023 season leaves a lot of opportunity for the ACC to reclaim its throne at the top of the lacrosse world, but how exactly will it get there?
Every week we will be taking a look at every NCAA Division 1 Lacrosse conference and breaking down each team along with identifying their main focus for the upcoming season. This week we are taking a look at the ACC Lacrosse Conference.
Duke
2022 Season Record
(11-6)
Notable Returning Players
Brennan O’Neill (53G, 21A) – Dyson Williams (43G, 9A) – Tyler Carpenter (67GBs, 3G, 2A)
Focus for the 2023 Season
The expectations for Duke are the same as any other year; perform at a high level, win the ACC, and make the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament.
The Blue Devils return a high amount of offensive star power in players like Brennan O’Neill who was named a Second Team USILA All-American this past season, along with Dyson Williams who led the nation in overall shooting percentage last year.
However, the Blue Devils will be looking at a new face between the pipes which is expected to come with some learning moments and growing pains. Expect for this defense to lean on leadership from experienced players like Tyler Carpenter and other experienced defensive personnel as the new netminder gets used to the starting role.
In order to meet the expectations that come with the Duke name, the Blue Devils must avoid any “bad” losses early in the season. Duke is typically beaten by a lesser opponent every year and with the ACC receiving less NCAA tournament bids as of late, the Blue Devils cannot afford these blemishes on their record.
Fall ballin’ 🥍🍂 pic.twitter.
com/MqGtjRFrvG
— Duke Men’s Lacrosse (@DukeMLAX) October 3, 2022
com/MqGtjRFrvGNotre Dame
2022 Season Record
(8-4)
Notable Returning Players
Pat Kavanagh (25G, 39A) – Chris Kavanagh (22G, 11A) – Liam Entenmann (.573% Save Percentage)
Focus for the 2023 Season
Hailing from the Midwest, Notre Dame has always been an exciting program to watch. Notre Dame is consistently a strong powerhouse that is known for a strong defense that will make you earn every point. For the upcoming season, expect that same defensive force to be at an all-time high. Goaltender Liam Entenmann, has been a major bright spot and anchor of the Notre Dame defense since he arrived on campus. Entering his senior season, Entenmann is fully expected to give another All-American caliber season to help propel this Fighting Irish team towards an NCAA tournament bid.
Offensively, Pat and Chris Kavanagh need to lead the charge this year and take jumps in their game.
These two were the offensive leaders for the team last year and that will need to continue in order for the team to have a serious shot at the tournament. After missing the NCAA Tournament last year despite a strong close to the season, the Fighting Irish offense will need to take the next step and put more points on the board against their tougher opponents to come out with more victories on the schedule at the end of the year. They say defense wins championships, but the Fighting Irish need offense to keep them in the game to begin with.
🧱🧱🧱
Liam Entenmann: A nightmare for opposing attacks#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/npmZ1Tk4xf
— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) September 28, 2022
North Carolina
2022 Season Record
(8-6)
Notable Player Departures
Jacob Kelly (20G, 15A) – Chris Gray (48G, 32A)
Focus for the 2023 Season
UNC has always been a phenomenal program and a pleasure to watch.
However, we can all agree that the Tar Heels have seen better seasons than the 2022 season. Despite the additional power added by Chris Gray, the Tar Heels did not have the season they had hoped for. Last season the Tar Heels were outscored, more penalized, and less efficient than their opponents throughout the year.
The expectation for UNC this year is to not just get better, but to get back to being a competitive team within the conference. With the Tar Heels going 1-5 in conference play along with the departures of players like Chris Gray and Jacob Kelly, the offense is going to have to find its identity early in the season to avoid unnecessary losses. It should be anticipated that they will likely still have struggles in the coming season as well, but expect them to begin their climb back upwards.
Defensively, expect a jump in productivity from the Tar Heel goalkeeper. UNC was very average to below average between the pipes this year and goaltender Collin Krieg’s save percentage has dropped every year so far as the starter.
The Tar Heels need to find the answer in net in order to establish a defensive rhythm and avoid blowout conference losses like we saw last year.
WORK WEEK 💪🥍#FamilyAcademicsLacrosse pic.twitter.com/yMmxSxjsHr
— UNC Men’s Lacrosse (@UNCMensLacrosse) October 3, 2022
Syracuse
2022 Season Record
(4-10)
Notable Player Departure
Tucker Dordevic (47G, 12A)
Notable Transfers/Freshmen
Will Mark (GK) – Joey Spallina (A)
Focus for the 2023 Season
Syracuse undoubtedly had one of the worst seasons in program history. This was even more upsetting to the Orange faithful considering they just hired two of the best players in lacrosse history as coaches. To make matters worse, they could not get any consistency between the pipes and lacked the offensive power needed to propel them forward in close contests.
For this upcoming season, expect a much stronger defense from Syracuse. The Orange picked up a very talented goalie in Will Mark from LIU through the transfer portal. The addition of Will Mark between the pipes should yield a lot more consistency than what they were receiving previously. This will lead to a better defense and more offensive opportunities for the team. However, the departure of offensive weapon Tucker Dordevic will undoubtedly be missed. Syracuse did land the No.1 rated recruit out of high school, Joey Spallina, to fill this void. While Spallina cannot be the entire answer, expect for him to be a bright spot for the Orange wearing the legendary #22 jersey.
New week. More improvement.#HHH x #LikeNoOther pic.twitter.com/pjXfknjdj5
— Syracuse Men’s Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) September 26, 2022
Virginia
2022 Season Record
(12-4)
Notable Returning Players
Connor Shellenberger (32G, 44A) – Payton Cormier (50G, 10A) – Matthew Nunes (GK)
Notable Incoming Freshmen
Truitt Sunderland (A)
Focus for the 2023 Season
The University of Virginia is a top five team in the nation almost every year.
The expectations of this program are the same every year; championship weekend partnered with a national title at the end. For the Cavaliers, this expectation is a real possibility as they bring back a wealth of star power, experience, and young fresh talent for the 2023 season.
The Cavaliers return stud offensive profiles like Shellenberger along with Payton Cormier to continue their offensive dominance. The additions of recruits like Truitt Sunderland, one of top rated recruits coming out of high school, will only make this offense even more difficult to handle.
On the opposite end of the field, goalkeeper Matthew Nunes returns to the Cavaliers as the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year and brings along with a ton of valuable in-game experience. Expect for this young goaltender to be a staple for this Virginia defense and take a jump in net finishing the season above .500%.
At 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗔, opportunity knocks 🚪🤛#HoosNext⚔️ pic.
— Virginia Men’s Lacrosse (@UVAMensLax) September 1, 2022
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twitter.com/v1fczwCayrACC Lacrosse Championship underway in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Major collegiate lacrosse has found a new home in Charlotte, at least for this weekend.
The 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship continues Friday, just outside of Uptown Charlotte.
What You Need To Know
- 2023 ACC Women’s Lacrosse Championship continues in Charlotte throughout the weekend
- Number of lacrosse teams in North Carolina on the rise at high school level
- Fans in attendance say the sport, and its fanbase, are growing in N.C.
Fans in the stands hope it shows just how far the state has come in encouraging the growth of lacrosse.
“Oh yeah, this is a great opportunity for many girls here in our local area, to be able to come and watch elite talent,” said Mark Miller, a spectator this week.
Miller attended the tournament with his daughter, Maggie, a 13-year-old lacrosse player in Mooresville.
“Took her out of school and let her come down here and enjoy the day,” he said with a smile.
Two of Miller’s children play lacrosse in Mooresville schools, Maggie and his older son. He said that when they saw the ACC was bringing its 2023 Women’s Lacrosse Championship to Charlotte for the first time, he had to get tickets for the two of them.
To the West Virginia native, the American South is catching up to the Northeast in terms of lacrosse emphasis. He knows, because he has seen it at his kids’ programs.
“The number of high schools (that) have added a team, you have a lot of rec teams that are younger where girls are involved that used to maybe have 12 to 15 girls, now have up to 20,” Miller explained.
The growth is even on display within the ACC. Conference member Clemson University is in its first season with Division 1 women’s lacrosse.
Meanwhile, the state’s high schools added more than two dozen girls teams since 2015, according to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Boys teams increased 20 teams since 2015, according to the same data.
Duke team mom Catherine Fedor visited Charlotte to root on her daughter, a graduate student and attacker. Mom says she is set to continue the sport’s growth after graduating.
“We’ve noticed that the travel teams are becoming more abundant and our daughter will actually be coaching a travel team this summer. Down here, when she gets her job in Wilmington,” Fedor said.
The ACC is also tipping its hand on the potential for growth of the sport in North Carolina. From 1997 to 2019, the Women’s Lacrosse Championship was held outside the state of North Carolina 15 times. Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts account for most of the hosting gigs, fitting for the traditional lacrosse footprint.
It was held in North Carolina during the same time period just eight times, a stark difference to the conference’s other athletic championships, which often call North Carolina home more than other states. However, since the canceled 2020 season, the women’s championship has been held in North Carolina every year, including this year’s first ever visit to Charlotte.
