(Charlottesville, VA) — Notre Dame came into Monday hoping for a third men’s lacrosse national championship in the last four years.

Instead, the Irish ran into a buzzsaw.

Top-ranked Princeton reeled off 11 consecutive goals in the first half and cruised to a 16-9 victory, earning the Tigers their first men’s lacrosse national championship in 25 years.

Things started well for the Irish, as Will Meharas, Josh Yago and Matt Jeffrey staked the Irish to a 3-0 lead just four minutes in.

That’s when Princeton received the wake-up call, stifling the Irish attack with a zone defense, while using a motion offense with constant picking and screening to baffle Notre Dame.

But the Tigers really dominated in every facet of the game — faceoffs, ground balls, you name it — in the first half. After tying the game at 3 by the end of the first quarter, Princeton compiled an 8-0 second quarter that really decided the game. Senior Chad Palumbo racked up four goals and an assist to lead the way.

Kevin Corrigan’s squad finishes the year at 13-3.