Notre Dame men’s lacrosse standout Will Donovan has become a crucial part of the team’s recent success, as highlighted in an April 22 feature by Ben Hicks. The article recounts Donovan’s rise from being an underrecruited high school athlete to playing a pivotal role in Notre Dame’s pursuit of national championships.
Donovan’s story is significant because it demonstrates how perseverance and adaptability can lead to unexpected achievements, both for individuals and their teams. His impact was most visible during the 2023 NCAA semifinal against Virginia, when his diving check helped secure possession for Notre Dame in overtime, setting up the game-winning goal that propelled the team toward its first national title.
Reflecting on his recruitment process, Donovan said, “I was probably lying on my highlight tape. I was actually about 150 pounds, so I was not recruited. I was talking to some D-III schools.” He described how attending a prospect day at Notre Dame changed his trajectory: “I ended up coming out here for a prospect day, stars happened to align, and I played some of the best lacrosse I’d ever played.”
Donovan credited playing multiple sports with aiding his athletic development before focusing on lacrosse full-time. “I played three sports through senior year, which I think helped a lot with developing as an athlete. But lacrosse was always the one I gravitated to the most,” he said.
As a freshman at Notre Dame in 2022, Donovan quickly made an impression by earning Honorable Mention All-American honors and becoming the only freshman LSM selected for the All-ACC Team. He continued to improve throughout his college career: “A lot of developing was realizing I’m not the guy who’s gonna put a shoulder through someone’s chest. So I probably should figure out how to have a good stick,” he said.
Donovan emphasized that team success outweighs individual recognition: “It’s never been a focus,” he said regarding personal accolades. “Recognition is nice to hear, but there is only one goal every year and that’s to win a championship.” After setbacks such as losing in this year’s NCAA Tournament quarterfinals against Penn State, Donovan and his teammates recommitted themselves to maintaining team culture and focus.
Looking ahead with only one regular season game remaining before postseason play begins again in May, Donovan remains dedicated: “You just try to be your best self, best teammate, best team every single practice,” he said. As he prepares for what could be another championship run with Notre Dame this spring, Donovan summed up his approach: “It’s the little things that go unnoticed… That culture has been so strong these past couple years… we are going to be exhausting to play against.”
