Notre Dame lacrosse defeated Duke 13-9 Monday evening to claim the 2023 national title at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. This is the program’s first NCAA national championship after 2 previous trips to the title game.

The Irish entered halftime up 6-1, playing dominant defense. Duke put together an impressive 2nd half rally, but it was ultimately too little, too late.

Check out the moment the Fighting Irish became national champs below:

Notre Dame and Duke have a thing about playing for the Lacrosse national championship. The Fighting Irish have faced off against the Blue Devils in 3 national title games now, losing the previous 2 before finally getting over the hump Monday. Those 3 instances are the only times the Irish have made the championship game, despite the Irish being revered as a top contender in the sport across the past decade.

But it definitely took some doing even to get to Monday’s game. Virginia had the Irish on the ropes on Saturday, but Notre Dame stormed all the way back to will itself into Monday.

Good things happen to those who wait.