SOUTH BEND, Ind.--The Bellarmine Knights fell 12-6 on the road against No. 8 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Quinn McCahon got the Irish on the board first, but Bellarmine answered just a few minutes later with a goal from Landon Trout. However, that would be the only goal the Knights were able to get in the first quarter. Notre Dame ended the quarter with a four-goal run to get up 5-1 heading into the second.

Kyle Playsted cashed in on a man-up opportunity early in the second to end the Knights' scoring drought and get Bellarmine on the board first in the second quarter. Patrick Keegan and Eric Rubak each scored late in the quarter to answer a two-goal Notre Dame run and cut the Irish's lead to 4-7 heading into the half.

JC Higginbotham stepped up big time all game, ending the day with 15 saves, but the second quarter is where he really shined. The goalie made seven saves during the second to help the Knights stifle the Notre Dame offense.

"JC Higginbotham is a burgeoning star, and he picked a heck of an afternoon to have his best collegiate outing," said Bellarmine head coach Andy Whitley. "The young man is a tireless worker and I would expect we'll see a few more afternoons like this during his career."

The heavy defensive play continued in the third quarter as Mikey Drake got Notre Dame's lone goal in the quarter and Benny O'Rourk scored Bellarmine's only goal of the quarter. However, the Irish offense got hot in the fourth and outscored the Knights 4-1 in the final frame to secure the 12-6 victory. Benny O'Rourk had Bellarmine's lone fourth quarter goal.

"I am proud of how hard our kids play and that being an identity of our program," Whitley said. "his is another game that came down to 4th quarter execution,  and we continue to improve in that area. However college lacrosse is not forgiving of the learning curve."

Benny O'Rouk led Bellarmine with two goals while Landon Trout and Kyle Playsted each had two points (1G/1A). Eric Rubak had three caused turnovers and one goal.

Quinn McCahon led Notre Dame with four goals. Pat Kavanagh dished out six assists for the Irish. Kyle Gallagher and Charlie Leonard went a combined for 17-for-21 (80%) at the faceoff dot.

The Knights have a quick turnaround as they'll return to action on Tuesday when they host VMI in a noon game at Frazier Stadium.