CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Coming off the program’s first national championship in 2023, Notre Dame has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Championship. The preseason order of finish and All-ACC Team were determined by a vote of the league’s five head coaches.
The Fighting Irish totaled 23 points and were followed by two other programs that played during NCAA Championship Weekend last season, with Duke in second with 19 points and Virginia in third with 16 points. The Blue Devils are the reigning ACC champions after going 5-1 in league play last season.
North Carolina was fourth in the preseason poll with nine points, while Syracuse was fifth with eight points.
All five ACC teams are ranked among the top 20 in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Media Poll, with Notre Dame, Duke and Virginia ranking 1-2-3. Syracuse is ranked No. 9, while UNC is No. 17.
The Preseason All-ACC Team features seven players who earned first- or second-team Inside Lacrosse All-America honors, including all three attackmen, highlighted by Duke attackman Brennan O’Neill, who was the recipient of the 2023 Tewaaraton Award. Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh and Virginia’s Connor Shellenberger also were Tewaaraton finalists last season.
O’Neill and Kavanagh each were First-Team All-Americans last season. Notre Dame goalie Liam Entenmann, the ACC’s reigning Defensive Player and Goalie of the Year, also was a First-Team All-American last season, as was Duke faceoff specialist Jake Naso.
Shellenberger, Notre Dame midfielder Eric Dobson and Duke defenseman Kenny Brower were second-team All-Americans last season.
The 2024 ACC men’s lacrosse schedule begins Saturday with Duke playing host to Bellarmine and Syracuse welcoming Vermont to the JMA Wireless Dome. North Carolina and Virginia open their seasons on Feb. 11, as the Tar Heels travel to Mercer, while UVA plays host to No. 11 Michigan. Notre Dame starts its season on Feb. 14 at home against Cleveland State.
Conference play begins on Saturday, April 6. The ACC Men’s Lacrosse Championship returns this season and will be contested May 3 and 5 at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2024 Predicted Order of Finish
1. Notre Dame, 23
2. Duke, 19
3. Virginia, 16
4. North Carolina, 9
5. Syracuse, 8
2024 Preseason All-ACC Team
Attack
Pat Kavanagh, Gr., Notre Dame
Brennan O’Neill, Sr., Duke
Connor Shellenberger, Sr., Virginia
Midfield*
Eric Dobson, Sr., Notre Dame
Andrew McAdorey, Jr., Duke
Griffin Schutz, Jr., Virginia
Jake Stevens, 5th, Syracuse
Defense
Paul Barton, Jr., North Carolina
Kenny Brower, Gr., Duke
Cole Kastner, Sr., Virginia
Goalie: Liam Entenmann, Gr., Notre Dame
Face-off: Jake Naso, Sr., Duke
Long-stick midfielder: Tyler Carpenter, Gr., Duke
Short-stick midfielder: Ben Ramsey, Jr., Notre Dame
*Includes one extra player due to tie in voting