Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ND SPORTS and 3‑2 (seven innings) to then‑No. 11 LSU. Those defeats were followed by a 3‑0 loss at North Carolina May 13 de‑ spite allowing just four hits. Therefore, it appears likely now the Irish could need to win the ACC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Ten teams qualify for the confer‑ ence postseason championship, in‑ cluding the top team in each division, followed by the next‑best eight teams based on conference winning percent‑ age regardless of division. As of May 16, Notre Dame would enter as the No. 9 seed in the tourna‑ ment. WOMEN'S LACROSSE ADVANCES TO NCAA QUARTERFINALS While the men's team tries to break down its barrier of winning a national title, head coach Christine Halfpenny's squad already reached one of its goals. After falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons, the sixth‑seeded Notre Dame women's team defeated Northwestern 13‑3 May 15 to advance to the national quarterfinals. "It's a great program win and all the credit goes to the play‑ ers," Halfpenny told UND.com. "Since the senior class came here as freshmen, they've been focused on advancing to at least the quarterfinals and they've worked so hard. "I can't be more proud of them." Her team is anchored by three‑time captain and fifth‑year senior defender Barbara Sullivan. The Tewaaraton Award finalist controlled five draws and corralled three grounds balls and three turnovers to help the Irish hold Northwestern to just three goals. All‑ACC performer Cortney Fortu‑ nato added four goals from the attack position in the victory. "Our program has great respect for Northwestern and everything they've done in the past," Halfpenny told UND.com. "That's what's exciting. "While they have grown this sport, it is also something that has fueled and motivated our program here at Notre Dame. We are in the Midwest as well. Junior infielder Cavan Biggio and the Irish went 12-6 in April, but lost seven of their first nine games in May. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS