On a picture-perfect Mother’s Day Sunday at Arlotta Stadium, the Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse team delivered a statement performance, dismantling the Jacksonville Dolphins 18-5. The Fighting Irish played with relentless energy and precision, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year. Next up: a showdown with Johns Hopkins on Long Island at Hofstra University on Saturday, May 16th at 12 PM EST. The winner punches their ticket to the Final Four—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

For much of the season, fans have been waiting for Notre Dame to ignite in transition. On Sunday, they finally saw it. The Irish came out firing, converting fast-break opportunities into easy goals and building an early lead that set the tone. When this team pushes the pace, the goals come in bunches—and with the athletes on this roster, it’s a style that could carry them deep into May.

One of the biggest storylines of the afternoon was the emergence of Thomas Porell. Not only did he notch his first career goal—an absolute rocket—but he also turned in a stellar defensive performance. This could be a game-changer for the Irish postseason run. The coaching staff now appears confident in a deep rotation of five short-stick defensive midfielders: Christian Alacqua, Chris Reinhardt, Kyle Bergen, Miguel Iglesias, and Porell. Freshman Brendan Mullahy also saw early action at SSDM. If the staff has faith in six defenders, that depth will be critical as the schedule tightens and the competition intensifies.

And then there’s Thomas Ricciardelli—steady as ever. Even as Jacksonville controlled possession for much of the first quarter, Ricciardelli anchored the defense and kept the Irish in control. His performance was exactly what we’ve come to expect this season: composed, reliable, and clutch when it matters most.

With Johns Hopkins looming, Notre Dame’s national championship hopes are very much alive. If the Irish can keep this momentum—and this depth—rolling, a trip to the Final Four is well within reach.