Mahtomedi alum reflects on NCAA championship

BY BRUCE STRAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Like many high school athletes with college-level potential, Colin Hagstrom envisioned what it would be like to play for an NCAA championship team. In Hagstrom’s case, the dream came true.

The former two-sport high school hero for Mahtomedi saw action for the Notre Dame lacrosse team that defeated No. 1 ranked Duke 13-9 in the NCAA finals.

Hagstrom, a junior, was the backup face-off man behind sophomore Will Lynch. Face-offs were a strength for the Irish all season.

“Growing up watching college lacrosse, I always dreamed of playing in the national championship,” said Hagstrom, who was 2-for-5 on face-offs against Duke while Lynch was 12-for19. “To actually accomplish this dream is such an unbelievable feeling.”

The No. 3 ranked Irish finished 14-2, including two wins over Duke. Both losses came against Virginia, but the Irish beat the Cavaliers 13-12 in the NCAA semifinals before capturing their legendary college’s first national title in lacrosse.

Hagstrom won 61 of 146 face-offs in 16 games, also scoring three goals in four shots. Asked about any personal highlights for the season, he said, “Being able to spend so much time with such great people while working hard to win a national championship was incredible.”