Sunday was a record setting day for Notre Dame women’s lacrosse, as the Fighting Irish set their program-record for largest margin of victory against Kent State in the 27-0 win on Sunday.

No. 22 Notre Dame jumped ahead in the first half on back-to-back goals in the fourth minute by Andie Aldave and Jessi Masinko.

Aldave scored three goals in the first 13 minutes. In total, Notre Dame scored 10 goals in 12 minutes.

“I think if you’re playing a good six minutes against a top 20 team with a new team, that’s something to build on,” coach Brianne Tierney said. “I think the good part for us is we’re seeing the game at a different speed and hopefully that continues forward into our practices and to what we’re doing in the future.”

Later in the first half, a running clock was put into play. NCAA rules state, “The game clock and possession clock will always mirror each other, except when there is a score differential of ten or more goals, and the game clock continues to run.”

The Irish finished out the half with an 18-0 lead, and in the 22nd minute, Kent State freshman goalie Bridgette Kiefer switched out freshman goalie Grace Merrill. Merrill had 4 saves and allowed 15 goals on 19 shots on goal.

“I think the first half you play with some urgency in that you’re still in the game four, five goals down,” coach Tierney said. “I think in the second half you play with an urgency that ‘hey, we have nothing to lose, we’re already down 18-0.’ There’s a different mentality going into each different segment of the game. There were some good things we did. There were some things we obviously need to work on.”

In the second half the Flashes defense played some of their best defense of the game, holding the Irish to only two goals in the first 10 minutes. Sunday’s game was the fourth time this season that Notre Dame has scored at least 19 goals.

The Kent State offense was held to zero shots on goal.  

“(Notre Dame) plays really clean lacrosse, really athletic, they’re really fast,” coach Tierney said. “I’m hoping we take away some of the skills that they were using against us and we can do those at practice to each other.”

Notre Dame rounded out the game with eight goals in the second half. It was their first shutout since a game against Villanova on April 9, 2010.  

Kent State’s next game will be back at home on March 3 when they take on St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m. in Dix Stadium.

Amanda Levine is a sports reporter. Contact her at [email protected]