Notre Dame’s Exclusion From NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Causes Uproar

This is the first time the team will miss the tournament since 2005.

Twitter was in an uproar Sunday night after the top 16 lacrosse teams were announced for the 2022 men’s NCAA tournament. One specific omission was the source of most of the fury.  

Notre Dame didn’t make the field for the first time since 2005 after finishing the season 8–4. The Fighting Irish struggled to start the year after a season-opening win against Detroit Mercy, losing three consecutive games against Maryland, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Georgetown, the tournament’s No. 2 seed and Ohio State, a squad that made the field as an at-large team. It also lost a late March game against Virginia, which dropped its record to 2–4.

But Notre Dame won its last six straight and shared the ACC title with Virginia. Even still, it wasn’t enough. Committee chair Donna Woodruff explained that the six teams being considered for the the final four at-large spots were Notre Dame, Duke, Ohio State, Brown, Virginia and Harvard. Duke was eliminated because of its three losses to teams that didn’t qualify for the tournament, and this directly impacted Notre Dame’s stock. The Fighting Irish’s win over Duke became less impressive after the Blue Devils were held out of the tourney.

Just talked with committee chair Donna Woodruff about how the final at-large teams were selected.

Long story short: Duke's losses to teams outside the top 20 (Jacksonville, Loyola, Syracuse) knocked them out, and Duke getting discounted damaged Notre Dame.

Her explanation: pic.twitter.com/vBo4PBcYFe

— Patrick Stevens (@D1scourse) May 9, 2022

Here are some of the reactions from Twitter after Notre Dame was left out of this year’s NCAA tournament. 

Leaving @NDlacrosse out of the tournament is an absolute joke. Complete joke. One of the worst decisions the selection committee has made.

Clearly - watching games is not necessary to be on the committee.

— Anish Shroff (@ShroffPxP) May 9, 2022

Very happy for my Big Red and the Ivies, but this bracket is whack! Notre Dame should be in hands down. Top 5 team in the country in my opinion.

— Rob Pannell (@RobPannell3) May 9, 2022

The entire selection process needs to be re-examined and then fixed.

— Quint Kessenich (@QKessenich) May 9, 2022

Notre Dame should absolutely be in. I can't even comprehend this. I don't even want to make memes about it, it's just so insane. My soul has left my body.

— Dan Arestia (@danarestia) May 9, 2022

As @AnishESPN has already sounded off about, Notre Dame men's lax should 100% be in the NCAA tournament field, but somehow the 11th ranked team in the country that won its last 6 games isn't 1 of the best 18 teams in the country.

Absolute highway robbery. https://t.co/vReDas8Vrn pic.twitter.com/Qomg1bIqkT

— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) May 9, 2022

Watching the Men’s Lacrosse Selection Show as a fan since my grandson has committed to @NDlacrosse How in THE WORLD can the Irish be denied a bid to the NCAA tournament after winning 6 in a row including wins over UNC and Duke? It’s a joke to deny those kids.

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) May 9, 2022