Rusbuldt Sets Single-Game Saves Record In Loss At No. 6 Notre Dame

Sunday, February 23

South Bend, Ind.

Noon

University of Richmond

Notre Dame

Photo by: John Mersits

Rusbuldt Sets Single-Game Saves Record In Loss At No. 6 Notre Dame

02/23/2020 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The 17^th-ranked University of Richmond men's lacrosse team made its first road trip of the year Sunday and the Spiders suffered a 13-5 defeat at No. 6 Notre Dame at Arlotta Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame scored seven out of the last eight goals of the game to break open a tight contest in the second half.

The loss drops the Spiders to 2-2 on the season with both of their losses coming to Top-10 opponents. Richmond opened the season with a double overtime loss to No. 4 Maryland at home.

Redshirt junior goalie Jack Rusbuldt (Richmond, Va.) tallied a program-record 22 saves in the loss to the Fighting Irish Sunday. Rusbuldt's 22 saves smashes the previous high of 17 saves set four times prior with the last coming by Blake Goodman in 2018. Rusbuldt was particularly strong in the first half, tying his then career-high with 15 saves in the opening 30 minutes of the game, keeping it a two-goal contest.

The Spiders faltered at the face-off dot in the loss, dropping 19 of 22 attempts in the game as they played their second-straight game without top face-off specialist Andrew Hamilton (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) who is sidelined with an injury. The face-off disparity led Notre Dame with possession as the Fighting Irish recorded 57 shots in the game compared to 26 taken by the Spiders.

The game started off well for the Spiders as they went the first 15 minutes tied at one goal apiece. Freshman attack Richie Connell (Evergreen, Colo.) ran his goal-scoring streak to four-straight games to begin his career with his 12^th tally of the year at the 2:24 mark.

Junior attack Ryan Lanchbury (Burlington, Ontario) gave the Spiders a 2-1 lead early in the second quarter as he scored a behind the back, no-look tally off a feed from Connell. Notre Dame responded with the final three goals of the first half, including a goal with 1.9 seconds remaining in the half taking a 4-2 lead into the break.

Senior midfielder Tate Gallagher (Ardmore, Pa.) and junior midfielder Mitch Savoca (Newtown, Conn.) scored early in the third quarter to keep it a two-goal game at 6-4. Notre Dame broke open the game by scoring seven-straight goals, including four in a span of 1:31 seconds as they kept possession off the face-off wins. Lanchbury would add his second of the game in the final minute of play.

Richmond continues is challenging schedule Friday evening when it travels to Durham to face No. 10 Duke. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at the ACC Network.

-- UR --