Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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84 MARCH 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED ND SPORTS BY TODD D. BURLAGE A nyone trying to track or pin down Irish graduate student Ryan Bischel better move fast, because the star Irish goaltender is never in one place for very long. One hour, Bischel might be in a class- room, putting the finishing touches on another master's degree. The next, per- haps he's performing community ser- vice to help improve the quality of life for under-privileged youngsters in the South Bend area. Later in the day, Bischel might be film- ing television commercials as part of an NIL agreement with First State Bank. "I've been taking some heat from my teammates for those," Bischel shared with a laugh. "They tell me I don't have a future in acting." And if you can't find Bischel doing any of the above, be certain he's inside the Compton Family Ice Arena on campus, helping Notre Dame chase down a Big Ten title, while at the same time, he's pursuing his own dream of someday playing in the NHL. Bischel — who helped found The Push Project, a non-profit organization that assists poor children in under- developed countries through donation and education — was tabbed as a nominee for the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Ryan Bischel Squeezes Everything Out Of His Experience Irish Roundup FENCING (MEN 35-5, WOMEN 33-9) The men compiled a 4-1 record and the women went 3-2 at the St. John's Invitational Jan. 20 in Jamaica, N.Y. … Both squads posted 3-2 marks at the Phila- delphia Invitational Jan. 21 … The men went 13-0 and the women went 13-1 in the DeCicco Duals Jan. 27-28 in South Bend … The Irish closed out the regular season at the Northwestern Duals Feb. 3 in Evanston, Ill., with the men going 4-1, while the women went 2-3 … The team will next compete at the USA Fencing Junior Olympics Feb. 16-19 in Charlotte, N.C., the ACC Championships Feb. 24-25 in South Bend, the NCAA Midwest Regional March 9 in Detroit and the NCAA Championships March 21-24 in Columbus, Ohio … The men were ranked No. 1 nationally and the women No. 2 in the Coaches Mid-Season Poll. WOMEN'S GOLF Opened its spring slate with a seventh-place finish in a 13-team field at the FAU Paradise Invitational Feb. 5-6 in Boca Raton, Fla. … Next up is the Spartan Suncoast Invitational Feb. 18-19 at Pompano Beach, Fla. HOCKEY (14-14-2 OVERALL, 8-10-2 BIG TEN) Notched a 3-2 home victory over Augustana Dec. 31 … Lost a pair, 2-1 and 7-4, at home versus Wisconsin Jan. 5-6 … Split a two-game set at Ohio State Jan. 12-13, losing 3-2 before rebounding with a 5-2 triumph … Swept Penn State, 4-1 and 6-3, Jan. 19-20 in South Bend … Split games versus Michigan State 4-1 and 0-4 Feb. 2-3 … Dropped a pair at Wisconsin 4-2 and 3-2 Feb. 9-10 … Will close the regular season against Minnesota Feb. 16-17 in South Bend and at Michigan Feb. 23-24. MEN'S LACROSSE The defending NCAA champions entered the season as the preseason No. 1 pick nationally and in the ACC … The Irish will open the regular season at home versus Cleveland State Feb. 14 and head to Marquette Feb. 18. WOMEN'S LACROSSE (2-0 OVERALL; 0-0 ACC) Opened the season with a 21-6 win versus Eastern Michigan Feb. 9 followed by a 22-3 shellacking of Central Michigan Feb. 11. Next up for the No. 8-ranked Irish is a showdown at home with defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Northwestern Feb. 16 and another home game with Butler Feb. 18. SOFTBALL (3-2 OVERALL; 0-0 ACC) Opened the season at the 2024 NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 9-11 in Clearwater, Fla. … Defeated Central Arkansas 3-0 and fell 5-1 to South Alabama Feb. 9 … Lost 9-3 to No. 16 Utah before rebounding with a 5-4 win vs. Iowa Feb. 10 and a 3-0 win vs. Liberty Feb. 11. MEN'S SWIMMING (7-0 OVERALL, 2-0 ACC) Defeated Princeton 218-135 and Navy 219-134 Jan. 12-13 in South Bend … Placed first in the Tim Welsh Classic Jan. 26-27 in South Bend … Will compete in the Ohio State Winter Invitational Feb. 16-18, before heading to the ACC Champi- onships Feb. 20-24 in Greensboro, N.C. WOMEN'S SWIMMING (3-4 OVERALL, 1-1 ACC) Lost to Princeton 187-166 and beat Navy 291-62 Jan. 12-13 in South Bend … Finished third in the Tim Welsh Classic Jan. 26-27 in South Bend … Will compete in the Ohio State Winter Invitational Feb. 16-18, before heading to the ACC Cham- pionships Feb. 20-24 in Greensboro, N.C. MEN'S TENNIS (5-3 OVERALL; 0-0 ACC) Began the dual season with a 7-0 and 4-0 victories over IUPUI Jan. 13 … Posted a 5-2 win at Wisconsin Jan. 21 … Lost to both Kentucky (4-0) and Nebraska (4-1) in the Men's ITA Kickoff Weekend Jan. 26-27 in Lexington, Ky. … Fell 6=1 at Michigan Feb. 9 … Defeated Auburn (5-1) and Toledo (4-0) Feb. 11 in South Bend. WOMEN'S TENNIS (5-2 OVERALL; 0-0 ACC) Opened the dual season with a pair of home victories, 6-1 over Iowa Jan. 20 and 5-2 versus Columbia Jan. 21 … Lost 4-0 to Ohio State but bounced back for a 4-3 win over Kansas at the Women's ITA Kickoff Weekend Jan. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio … Defeated Ball State (7-0) and Chicago State (5-0) Feb. 4 in South Bend … Fell 5-2 at Wisconsin Feb. 11.