Notre Dame coming to Southern California ... for lacrosse, not USC

Loyola's Mike Sawyer, left, is slapped in the head by Notre Dame's Stephen O'Hara during a game on May 26, 2012.

By Chris Foster

Dec. 5, 2013 7:47 AM PT

Notre Dame athletes are coming to Southern California carrying sticks.

“Fighting” Irish armed? That can’t be good for USC. Wasn’t beating the Trojans, 14-10, in October enough?

Except the Irish are winging their way west for a little lacrosse action.

Notre Dame will play Denver in the first Pacific Coast Shootout on March 8 at Orange Coast College. This, as lacrosse fans know, will be a marquee event.

Denver reached the the semifinals in the NCAA tournament in 2013, falling to Syracuse, 9-8, in the semifinals. Notre Dame was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Duke, which won the national championship.

USC fans have plenty of time to order Denver lacrosse shirts.

Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara will play in the nightcap.

Tickets are $35 for reserved seats and $25 for general admission and available online.

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