Notre Dame Athletics Roundup: Lacrosse Opens Strong, Certa Shines, and Irish Hockey Stuns Minnesota
After a 2025 season that left plenty of room for improvement, Notre Dame men’s lacrosse came out swinging in 2026-literally and figuratively. The Irish opened their campaign on Valentine’s Day with a 16-11 win, notching their 24th consecutive season-opening victory. That’s not just consistency; that’s a statement.
Offensively, the Irish spread the wealth. Attackmen Matt Jeffery and Teddy Lally each tallied three points, both scoring two goals and adding an assist. From the midfield, Will Maheras and Jalen Seymour chipped in with two goals apiece, showing off the kind of depth that could make this team dangerous as the season progresses.
Between the pipes, second-year starter Jeffery Ricciardelli turned in a solid performance with 12 saves on 23 shots for a .522 save percentage. Not elite, but enough to get the job done and build confidence heading into the next matchup. The Irish will look to keep the momentum rolling when they face Bellarmine on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Women’s Lacrosse Stays Hot, Downs No. 3 Boston College
The men weren’t the only ones making noise this weekend. Notre Dame women’s lacrosse continued its undefeated start with a gritty 12-9 win over No.
3 Boston College. That’s now a 3-0 record, with two of those wins coming against Top 15 opponents.
The only breather? A 25-0 rout of Central Michigan.
This early-season stretch is shaping up to be more than just a hot start-it’s a statement. The Irish women are proving they can hang with the nation’s best, and they’re doing it with poise and precision.
Shaun Shivers Joins Notre Dame Football Staff
On the football front, Marcus Freeman’s staff just got a little deeper. Shaun Shivers, who had recently been hired by Florida State as an assistant running backs coach, is heading to South Bend instead. He’ll serve as the Irish’s assistant wide receivers coach.
Shivers, a former Indiana Hoosier during his playing days, returns to familiar territory. He’ll work alongside wide receivers coach Mike Brown to help develop a group that’s shown flashes of high-end talent. It’s a savvy pickup for a program that’s made recruiting and development a clear priority under Freeman.
Cole Certa Drops 37, Lifts Irish Hoops Over Georgia Tech
No Jalen Haralson. No Markus Burton. No problem.
Freshman guard Cole Certa exploded for a career-high 37 points to lead Notre Dame past Georgia Tech, 89-74. It was a much-needed win for the Irish, who improved to 12-14 overall and 3-10 in ACC play. The victory also bumped them out of the conference basement, leapfrogging the Yellow Jackets (11-15, 2-11).
Certa’s performance wasn’t just impressive-it was clutch. With two key players out, he stepped into the spotlight and delivered in a big way. For a team still fighting to find its identity, this kind of breakout could be a turning point.
Irish Hockey Stuns Minnesota with Late Rally
It’s been a tough season for Notre Dame hockey-there’s no sugarcoating it. But Saturday night, they gave fans something to cheer about.
Trailing 2-1 midway through the third period, the Irish dug deep and found a way, scoring two unanswered goals to pull off a 3-2 win over Minnesota. Danny Nelson played the hero, netting the game-winner late in the third.
With the win, Notre Dame moves to 6-20-1 on the year. It’s been a grind, but this was the kind of performance that shows there’s still fight left in this team.
NFL Draft Buzz: Malachi Fields Climbing, Jeremiyah Love Earns 'Blue Chip' Tag
As NFL Draft season heats up, two Notre Dame names continue to pop up in scouting circles.
Malachi Fields, a transfer wide receiver, is turning heads with his rise up the draft boards. The latest endorsement came from Todd McShay, who gave Fields a strong nod of approval. His blend of size, speed, and route-running polish is catching the attention of scouts league-wide.
Meanwhile, Jeremiyah Love continues to cement his status as one of the top prospects in the country. Pro Football Focus recently named him their lone Blue Chip draft prospect out of Notre Dame-an elite distinction. Love has been on the radar for a while, but this kind of recognition only solidifies his first-round potential.
Baseball Bounces Back in a Big Way
After struggling to get the bats going in their season opener, Notre Dame baseball found its rhythm in Game 2 against FAU-loudly.
The Irish erupted for a 14-1 win on Saturday night, powered by big-time performances from Bino Watters and Jayce Lee. Both went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs, helping even the series and set up a Sunday rubber match.
The offense came alive when it mattered most, and now the Irish have a chance to take the series and build some early momentum.
Final Thoughts
From the lacrosse field to the hardwood, the ice rink to the diamond, it was a busy-and mostly successful-weekend for Notre Dame athletics. With spring sports heating up and NFL Draft buzz building, there’s no shortage of storylines coming out of South Bend. And if this weekend was any indication, the Irish are just getting started.