Mens Lacrosse: Irish hungry to halt recent losing streak
By PAT LEONARD
Sports Writer
When you dig a hole for yourself, you have to dig your way out.
The whiteboard in the Notre Dame mens lacrosse locker room could have read something similar at the beginning of this season. The Irish no doubt entered the spring reluctant to let another 5-8 season pass them by after being less than two years removed from the NCAA national semifinals.
So a quick start was in order, and the team responded to coach Kevin Corrigan's preseason preparation. A 3-0 start became a huge step up from the team's 1-2 opening record after three games last year. The Irish redeemed themselves against Penn St. and Penn and beat No. 7 North Carolina on the road. The fortunes of Kevin Corrigan's team seemed to be changing for the better.
Since the North Carolina victory, however, Notre Dame has lost 4 of its last 6 games. The losses include 9-8 defeats to current No. 11 Loyola (Md.) and current No. 14 Hofstra and blowout losses to No. 19 Ohio State (11-5) and No. 6 Virginia (14-8).
Notre Dame looks to end their losing stretch Thursday as they host the Butler Bulldogs at Moose Krause Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Butler returns eight starters from its 5-8 team of a year ago.
Corrigan, who was frustrated after the disappointing Ohio State loss, is anxious his team has not settled into any type of comfortable zone or style of play on the field. He is unsure the team can handle the various tempos that top teams have been throwing their way.
Granted, the schedule has not been kind to the Irish, as seven of their nine opponents so far have been ranked. Playing without leading point man Matt Howell, as he recuperates from an appendectomy, does not help Notre Dame either.
Still, the expectations Corrigan and the team had for this season were way above a 5-4 record at this point in the season.
Even more significant than the record on paper is the way the team has been playing of late. A lack of fundamentals and team defense has led to disastrous consequences. The play of freshman Pat Walsh and junior Dan Berger have kept the Irish close, but the team is still struggling to find a niche.
"We need to find a rhythm and we haven't done that yet," Corrigan said.
On a positive note, Notre Dame is 3-1 at home this season. The last time the Irish hosted the Bulldogs in 2001, Notre Dame spanked Butler, 12-3. Last season's game was closer, but not by much. The Irish tallied four goals in the first quarter and Dan Berger scored three on the day as the team came away with a 12-8 road victory.
Notre Dame is 9-1 all-time against Butler, a statistic that bodes well for the men's chances Thursday.
Then again, they had also won nine of the last ten against Ohio State before Sunday.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, April 10, 2003
