Which teams have won the most college lacrosse championships. How has the landscape of NCAA lacrosse evolved over the years. What are the key differences between men’s and women’s lacrosse championships across divisions.
The Pinnacle of Men’s Division I Lacrosse: Analyzing Championship Dynasties
The NCAA Men’s Division I lacrosse championship has been a stage for extraordinary competition and the forging of legendary programs. Since its inception in 1971, the tournament has showcased the sport’s elite, with only 11 teams managing to claim the coveted title. This exclusivity speaks volumes about the level of skill and consistency required to reach the pinnacle of college lacrosse.
Among the victors, several programs have established themselves as true dynasties:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Syracuse University
- University of Virginia
- University of North Carolina
- Princeton University
These powerhouses have dominated the landscape, often trading the championship between them. However, the sport has seen moments of breakthrough, with the University of Denver becoming the first team outside the Eastern Time Zone to clinch the title, signaling a gradual expansion of lacrosse’s competitive geography.
Remarkable Championship Statistics
The journey to the championship is often as telling as the victory itself. Here are some intriguing facts about the Division I tournament:
- Only seven unseeded teams have ever reached the final game
- The 2016 North Carolina Tar Heels stand alone as the only unseeded champion
- The No. 1 seed has claimed victory 17 times, underscoring the importance of regular-season performance
- 13 teams have achieved the pinnacle of an undefeated season crowned with a national title
Is consistency a hallmark of championship-caliber programs? The case of Johns Hopkins suggests so. The Blue Jays have participated in every tournament except for two years (1971 and 2013), demonstrating remarkable longevity at the sport’s highest level.
Division II Men’s Lacrosse: A Competitive Landscape in Transition
The NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse championship has a rich and complex history, reflecting the evolving nature of collegiate sports. Since its establishment, 14 different teams have claimed the title, with 17 making tournament appearances. This diversity of champions indicates a more open field compared to Division I, where dynasties have been more prevalent.
The tournament’s format has undergone several changes:
- 1974-1979: Combined Division II and III championship
- 1980-1981: Separate Division II championship
- 1982-1992: 12-year hiatus (Division II teams competed in Division I)
- 1993-present: Current tournament format
How has this shifting landscape affected the competitiveness of Division II lacrosse? The changes have allowed for interesting cross-divisional success stories. Several current Division I programs, including LIU Post, Hobart, Merrimack, UMBC, and Towson, have Division II titles to their name, showcasing the potential for programs to grow and transition between divisions.
Division II Lacrosse Powerhouses
While the Division II field has been more open, certain programs have still managed to establish themselves as perennial contenders:
- Limestone College: Holds the record for most championship appearances with 12
- Adelphi University: Leads in titles won with 7 NCAA Division II championships
The recent success of Merrimack, winning the title before moving to Division I, highlights the potential for upward mobility in college lacrosse. This fluidity between divisions adds an intriguing dynamic to the sport’s competitive landscape.
Division III Men’s Lacrosse: Where Tradition Meets Opportunity
Despite boasting the largest number of teams among NCAA divisions, Division III men’s lacrosse has seen a remarkable concentration of success. Only 10 different programs have claimed the championship title, with 16 teams in total making tournament appearances. This statistic suggests a balance between established powerhouses and the potential for new challengers to emerge.
Two programs stand out in the annals of Division III lacrosse:
- Salisbury University: Leads in tournament appearances with 18
- Hobart College: Holds the record for most championships with 13
Hobart’s achievement is particularly noteworthy, as it has won more NCAA Men’s Lacrosse championships than any other school across all divisions. This dominance at the Division III level showcases the potential for smaller schools to build lasting legacies in the sport.
How does the competitive balance in Division III compare to other divisions? While there are clear leaders, the division has seen recent challengers emerge. Cabrini University’s victory over Amherst College in the 2019 championship demonstrates that new contenders can rise to claim the title, keeping the competition dynamic and unpredictable.
The Evolution of Women’s Lacrosse Championships: From AIAW to NCAA
The history of women’s lacrosse championships in the United States is a testament to the growth and recognition of women’s sports. Before the NCAA took charge, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was the pioneering force in organizing women’s collegiate championships.
Key milestones in the development of women’s lacrosse championships:
- 1941: AIAW holds its first national championship (in golf)
- 1981-1982: NCAA adds women’s lacrosse to its championship program
- 1982: AIAW dissolves following the loss of its NBC contract
The transition from AIAW to NCAA marked a significant shift in the landscape of women’s collegiate sports. What factors contributed to this change? The growing recognition of women’s sports as potentially profitable ventures played a crucial role, prompting the NCAA to expand its offerings and ultimately leading to the decline of the AIAW.
The Impact on Women’s Lacrosse
The incorporation of women’s lacrosse into the NCAA championship program in 1981-1982 provided a new platform for the sport to grow and gain national recognition. This move aligned women’s lacrosse with other major collegiate sports, offering increased visibility and resources.
How did this transition affect the competitive landscape of women’s lacrosse? The shift to NCAA governance brought standardized rules, increased funding, and greater media exposure, all of which contributed to the sport’s development and the emergence of powerhouse programs in the decades that followed.
Women’s Division I Lacrosse: The Reign of the Maryland Terrapins
In the realm of NCAA Women’s Division I lacrosse, one program stands head and shoulders above the rest: the University of Maryland Terrapins. Their dominance is unparalleled, with a record that speaks volumes about their consistency and excellence:
- 14 national titles since 1986
- Most recent championship victory in 2019
- Most NCAA Women’s championships in any division
- Most NCAA lacrosse titles across both men’s and women’s divisions
What factors have contributed to Maryland’s extraordinary success? A combination of top-tier recruiting, exceptional coaching, and a winning culture has allowed the Terrapins to maintain their status as the team to beat year after year.
Challengers to the Throne
While Maryland’s dominance is clear, the competition in Division I women’s lacrosse remains fierce. Northwestern University stands as the next closest competitor with seven national championships, highlighting the potential for other programs to build their own legacies.
In total, 12 different teams have claimed the NCAA Women’s Division I title, demonstrating that while dynasties can form, there’s always room for new challengers to emerge and make their mark on the sport.
The Rise of Women’s Division II Lacrosse: Adelphi’s Dominance
The NCAA Women’s Division II lacrosse championship, introduced in the 2000-2001 academic year, has seen its own share of dominant performances. Since its inception, one program has risen to the forefront, establishing itself as the team to beat: Adelphi University.
Adelphi’s achievements in Division II women’s lacrosse include:
- Multiple national championships
- Consistent tournament appearances
- Development of numerous All-American players
How has Adelphi managed to maintain its stronghold on Division II women’s lacrosse? The program’s success can be attributed to several factors, including strong recruitment strategies, excellent coaching, and a commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes.
The Competitive Landscape
While Adelphi has been the dominant force, the Division II women’s lacrosse field is not without its challengers. Other programs have made significant strides, creating a competitive environment that pushes teams to continually improve and innovate.
Is the gap between Adelphi and other Division II programs narrowing? Recent years have seen emerging contenders giving Adelphi a run for its money, suggesting that the competitive landscape may be evolving. This dynamic creates exciting possibilities for the future of Division II women’s lacrosse.
Comparing Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Championships: Similarities and Differences
When examining the landscape of college lacrosse championships across genders and divisions, several interesting patterns and contrasts emerge. These comparisons offer insight into the development and current state of the sport at various levels.
Dominance and Parity
Both men’s and women’s lacrosse have seen dominant programs emerge:
- Men’s Division I: 11 different champions since 1971
- Women’s Division I: 12 different champions since 1982
- Men’s Division II: 14 champions out of 70+ competing teams
- Men’s Division III: Only 10 champions despite having the most teams
How does the level of parity differ between men’s and women’s lacrosse? While both have seen dynasties form, women’s Division I appears to have slightly more diversity among its champions. However, Maryland’s dominance in women’s lacrosse is arguably more pronounced than any single program in men’s lacrosse.
Geographic Distribution
Historically, lacrosse has been concentrated in the Eastern United States, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region. However, there are signs of geographic expansion:
- Men’s Division I: University of Denver became the first champion outside the Eastern Time Zone
- Women’s lacrosse: Still predominantly Eastern-centric, but with growing representation from other regions
Is the sport of lacrosse becoming more geographically diverse at the championship level? While progress has been made, especially in men’s lacrosse, there’s still room for growth in terms of national representation among championship contenders.
Program Mobility
An interesting aspect of college lacrosse is the potential for programs to move between divisions:
- Several current Division I men’s programs have won Division II titles in the past
- Merrimack’s recent transition from Division II to Division I after winning a championship
How does this mobility impact the competitive landscape of college lacrosse? It creates a dynamic environment where successful programs can aspire to compete at higher levels, potentially bringing fresh competition to established divisions.
Championship Legacies
When considering the most successful programs across all divisions:
- Men’s lacrosse: Hobart College holds the record with 13 Division III championships
- Women’s lacrosse: University of Maryland leads with 14 Division I titles
- Overall: University of Maryland has won the most lacrosse championships as a school, combining both men’s and women’s divisions
What do these records tell us about the nature of success in college lacrosse? They highlight the potential for programs to establish long-term dominance, while also showcasing the importance of institutional support in building championship-caliber teams across both men’s and women’s lacrosse.
In conclusion, the landscape of college lacrosse championships is rich with tradition, marked by dominant programs, and yet still evolving. As the sport continues to grow in popularity and expand geographically, it will be fascinating to see how these patterns of success and competition develop in the years to come.
Who Has The Most College Lacrosse Championships?
There are plenty of different ways to measure the success of a lacrosse team. But, the ultimate deciding factor in which is the most storied program is who has the most college lacrosse championships.
Who Has The Most College Lacrosse Championships?
Men’s
Division I
Photo: Ryan Conwell / Lacrosse All Stars
In a sport historically dominated by traditional blue blood programs, only 11 different teams have actually won the NCAA Men’s Division I lacrosse championship. Denver is actually the only university outside of the Eastern Time Zone to have won a national title. The NCAA Men’s Division I tournament began in 1971 after the USILA had awarded the championship from 1936 to 1970. The list includes Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Virginia, North Carolina and Yale. A total of 41 teams have competed in the tournament since its inception. Only seven unseeded teams have ever reached the championship game — the 2016 North Carolina Tar Heels are the only unseeded team to have ever won the title. Typically, it’s been the No. 1 seed that has won the title as that has happened 17 times. There have been 13 undefeated national champions, including the 1973 Maryland Terrapins squad, the 1988 Syracuse Orange team and the 2006 Virginia Cavaliers. For one of the more impressive stats in college athletics, Johns Hopkins has appeared in every tournament except for 1971 and 2013. Virginia won the 2019 tournament most recently for their sixth title.
Division II
Photo: Brian Witmer / LaxAllStars.com
Out of the 70+ teams that have competed at the Division II level, there have been 14 teams that have won NCAA championships, while there have been 17 teams who have made tournament appearances. The NCAA Division II and Division III combined championship was started in 1974, and lasted through the 1979 season. The NCAA split the championships into NCAA Division II and Division III after the 1979 season. This lasted for two years until 1981, after which there was a 12-year hiatus. The tournament format as we know it was brought back for the 1993 season. During that time, Division II lacrosse teams were allowed to compete as Division I members. Current NCAA Division I members LIU Post, Hobart, Merrimack, UMBC and Towson have all won NCAA Division II championships, while Loyola (MD) has also made an NCAA Division II championship appearance. Limestone has made the most appearances with 12, while Adelphi has won the most NCAA Division II titles with seven. Merrimack won the most recent NCAA Division II title before jumping to the Division I ranks.
Division III
Photo Credit: Larry Palumbo
Despite the vast number of lacrosse teams compared to the NCAA Division I offering, only 10 teams have won the NCAA Men’s Division III championship. Sixteen different teams have appeared in the tournament. Salisbury has made the most tournament appearances with 18, while Hobart has a one-championship lead over Salisbury with 13. Hobart has won the most NCAA Men’s Lacrosse championships out of any school in any division. Cabrini beat Amherst 16-12 in last year’s NCAA Division III championship.
Women’s
Women’s lacrosse was added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981-1982 school year. The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) had held championships for women’s sports since 1941, when the organization had held its first national championship with golf. It was the only championship for the group held that year. By the 1981-1982 season, the AIAW held 41 different national championships in 19 sports. At its peak, the AIAW had almost 1,000 member schools. The NCAA began to offer women’s championships in the late 1970s to compete with the AIAW as people began to consider women’s sports to be profitable. When NBC cancelled its contract in the middle of 1982 with the AIAW, the organization collapsed.
Division I
The Maryland Terrapins have been the dominant force in NCAA Women’s Division I lacrosse. The ‘Terps have won 14 national titles since their first in 1986, with Northwestern being the next closest team with seven national championships. Twelve different teams have won the NCAA Women’s Division I title. Maryland was the most recent winner of the tournament from last year’s 2019 championship. The ‘Terps have also won the most NCAA Women’s championships in any division, and the women’s lacrosse team has also won the most NCAA lacrosse titles out of any team — including both the men’s and women’s divisions. Incidentally, the University of Maryland has won the most number of lacrosse championships as a school, including both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Division II
The NCAA Women’s Division II championship began during the 2000-2001 school year. Adelphi has been the dominant force in Women’s Division II lacrosse, as they have taken home nine of the trophies in 10 championship appearances. Adelphi won the most recent title in 2019. LIU Post has won four titles in five appearances for the next best record. Nine teams have won an NCAA Women’s Division II title.
Division III
Screenshot, The College of New Jersey Athletics
The NCAA Women’s Division III championship began in 1985. The College of New Jersey has won an NCAA Women’s Division III best 12 total national championships, with their most recent coming in 2006. The College of New Jersey also won the 1992 championship — what would have been their 13th title — but was vacated due to playing an ineligible player. Middlebury, last year’s title-winner, has won seven championships in 10 appearances. Fourteen teams have appeared in the championship game, with 10 different programs winning the title.
So, now you know who has the most college lacrosse championships!
NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship Weekend on ESPN2
Game Coverage
Men’s Championship (Rentschler Field – East Hartford, Conn.)
Saturday, May 29
Semifinal #1: No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 1 North Carolina (noon ET, ESPN2)
Semifinal #2: No. 3 Maryland vs. No. 2 Duke (2 p.m.*, ESPN2)
Monday, May 31
National Championship Game (1 p.m., ESPN2)
Matchup Highlights
- Top four seeds in the men’s bracket will compete for the national championship; three teams from the ACC and one team from the Big Ten
- Duke, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia have a combined 78 national semifinals appearances (including this year)
- Still undefeated – Maryland enters championship weekend with a 14-0 record this season; would be the first champion to go unbeaten since Virginia in 2006
- Tewaaraton Award finalists playing this weekend include Jared Berhardt (Maryland), Chris Gray (North Carolina) and Michael Sowers (Duke)
Production
- Cameras will be stationed throughout Rentschler Field to capture the action, including SkyCam, three marshall cameras and goal cameras
- NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship SkyCast on ESPN3 and the ESPN App will incorporate the SkyCam feed throughout with normal replays angles from the broadcast
- Game officials will wear microphones during the men’s semifinals and championship, providing on-field dialogue during penalty calls
- First semifinal and title game will air in Spanish on ESPN3
Commentators
- Play-by-play commentator Anish Shroff, along with analysts Quint Kessenich (one of the nation’s top goalies during his time at Johns Hopkins and national champion), and Paul Carcaterra (All-American and national champion at Syracuse) will be on the call
- Chris Cotter will host studio coverage on-site alongside Matt Ward (2006 Tewaarton Award winner; national champion with Virginia), former Johns Hopkins head coach David Pietramala and ESPN radio host and lacrosse fanalyst Mike Golic Jr.; Carcaterra will join during halftimes
ACC Network
With three ACC teams participating in this weekend’s championship, ACC Network will have extensive coverage following the semifinals and championship game on All ACC – the network’s flagship news and information show – on Friday (11 p.m.), Saturday (8 p.m.), Sunday (10 p.m.) and Monday (6:30 p.m.). Additionally, All ACC will have exclusive coverage of “Anish’s Big Haircut” featuring Paul Carcaterra on Sunday.
NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Event/Commentators | Network |
| Sat, May 29 | Noon | NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship (East Hartford, Conn.) Semifinal #1 No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 1 North Carolina Anish Shroff, Quint Kessenich, Paul Carcaterra | ESPN2 |
| 2 p.m. (*or 35 minutes following conclusion of game 1) | NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship (East Hartford, Conn.) Semifinal #2 No. 3 Maryland vs. No. 2 Duke Anish Shroff, Quint Kessenich, Paul Carcaterra | ESPN2 | |
| Mon, May 31 | 1 p.m. | NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship (East Hartford, Conn.) Title Game Anish Shroff, Quint Kessenich, Paul Carcaterra | ESPN2 |
Games aired on an ESPN network will also be available through the ESPN App, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
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Virginia men’s lacrosse wins 2021 NCAA championship in thriller over Maryland
For the first time in Virginia men’s lacrosse history, the Cavaliers are back-to-back champs. Virginia outlasted the No. 3-seed Maryland Terrapins 17-16 to win the program’s seventh NCAA Championship. It was Maryland’s first loss of the season, and the Terps finish 15-1. They were looking to become the first undefeated champ since Virginia went 17-0 in 2006, but have lost 10 of their last 11 championship appearances.
In a game that will certainly be dubbed an “instant classic,” the Cavaliers held a 16-11 lead with just over 11 minutes to play. Maryland went on a frantic four-goal run that cut the lead to one with, but Virginia defenseman Cade Saustad cleaned up a ground ball in traffic and streaked towards the goal. He briefly looked like he considered a low-angle shot, but wisely dished a perfect pass to Matt Moore for a goal that would prove to be the decisive one.
Maryland would once again get within striking distance with 10 seconds left, and the Terps won the ensuing face off cleanly by Luke Wierman. He streaked towards the cage in a race against the clock, and ripped a low shot. Virginia keeper Alex Rode came up with his 12th and final save, and the horn would sound on another title for the Hoos.
Moore finished with four goals and two assists, but it was teammate Connor Shellenberger that wowed the crowd of over 14,000 in East Hartford Connecticut. Shellenberger, a redshirt first year, had four goals and two assists as well, but he utterly dominated his matchup against Maryland defender Nick Grill. He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player with 14 goals and 10 assists across the four games.
Moore, Jared Conners, Petey LaSalla, Rode, and Saustad all made the NCAA All-Tournament team as well.
Saustad was sensational on likely Tewaaraton winner, Jared Bernhardt, holding the talented offensive player to two goals on 13 shots. Maryland took 10 more shots than the Hoos, but the same number on goal (28).
It was the stereotypical game of runs as Virginia rattled off both a six and five-goal run at separate times of the game, and Maryland had two three-goal runs and a four-goal run. Every time the Terps threatened, Virginia responded.
After Logan Wisnauskas found the cage for his fourth goal to tie things at 11-11 with 9:11 remaining in the third, Virginia responded with five straight to give them some much-needed breathing room.
LaSalla finished with 21 face off wins, and Virginia got added offensive support from Jeff Conner (three goals, one assist) and Payton Cormier (two goals), and one goal apiece from LaSalla, Dox Aitken, Peter Garno, and Conners.
Another NCAA trophy coming back to Charlottesville.
Championship Sunday Recap – College Crosse
There were three Champions crowned in the college lacrosse world today, Championship Sunday. Teams lifted the gold trophy in Women’s Division I, Men’s Division II, and Men’s Division III. Two of them were even first time national champions in their schools history. Here’s your recap of all the day’s championship action and a look at the three programs who stood tall last in their class in 2021
Women’s Division I: Boston College 16-10 Syracuse
- The Eagles finally broke through after so many near-misses. Four years ago Boston College was the ultimate underdog on Championship Weekend. They had only won 2 NCAA Tournament games in their history. They were unseeded. And yet in a bottom half of the bracket that saw seeds go 1-4, the Eagles emerged and got all the way to Championship Sunday where they pushed one of the all time great teams, the 23-0 Maryland Terrapins, to the limit and came up just short 16-13. The next year they were a power. Sam Apuzzo won the Tewaaraton Award, they were 19-1 going into the tournament, they slayed the Maryland dragon in the Semifinals 15-13, but lost a nailbiter to fellow upstart James Madison by a goal. One year later they rode back yet again with another dominant team, as the #2 seed their highest in team history…and yet again on Sunday Maryland denied them. Three straight years they came up short on the sport’s biggest stage. Today was a different day. Powered by a tremendous 7-2 second half that saw pinpoint ball movement and off ball cutting and a defense that struggled through much of the year turning in one of the best Final Four defensive performances in recent memory through relentless, clean pressure and great groundball work, they finally got their moment in the sun (even if it wasn’t sunny in Towson this weekend. It’s a story of heart, competitive spirit, and resilience. Resilience. To keep coming back year after year after so many heartbreaks and not let them discourage them or hang each ensuing May was a sign of a resilient and relentless program under Acacia Walker-Weinstein, the preeminent young coach in all of college lacrosse now, that would not be denied. Finally, they reached the summit.
- Charlotte North made history breaking the single season NCAA goals record of 100 set by Courtney Murphy in 2016. She had a whopping 6 goals today and finished with an incredible 102 for the season. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament
- Rachel Hall, who had a 39% save percentage entering the Final Four, was great again with 9 saves and culminated an incredible Championship Weekend of 21 saves and a 51% save percentage, plus strong out of the cage play as well
- Cara Urbank, Belle Smith, Courtney Weeks, and Jenn Medjid all had 2 goals as well. Special shoutout to Smith, who played amazing two way lacrosse this weekend. Was super impressed by her defensive play in addition to the evident elite skill she possesses. She’s a star.
- More will come in our tournament debrief on Tuesday, but I had tons of fun at Towson this weekend. The women’s Final Four has become a premier event on not just the lacrosse calendar but the college sports one. Great games and great energy from the fans in attendance as well. Towson is also a great venue for these games and for future NCAA Men’s Quarterfinals as well. Highly recommend catching a game there if you haven’t. No bad seat in the house and several cool spots and sightlines if you’re willing to stand
Men’s Division II: Le Moyne 12-6 Lenoir-Rhyne
- The Le Moyne dynasty continues. The Dolphins won their 6th national championship since 2004, and 3rd in the last eight NCAA Championships. They completed a perfect 15-0 season.
- Matt Hutchings had six goals to lead the Dolphins
- Senior Frank Delia had a brilliant performance, with 15 saves
- The Dolphins defense was the story of the tournament, as they allowed just 22 goals in the entire championship
- Le Moyne’s 6th Championship breaks a tie with Limestone and leaves them solo 2nd for Division II National Championships all time. They are one way from tying Adelphi for most Division II National Championships in history
Men’s Division III: RIT 14-13 Salisbury
- In an absolute classic game, RIT joined Boston College as finally breaking through and winning their first national championship, taking down D3 superpower Salisbury in double overtime. The Tigers were down one with 20 seconds to go and did not have the ball, but forced a turnover and scored in transition for a stunning game tying goal. Then, after having two cracks at winning the game in overtime and being denied, Dawson Tait fed Ryan Barnable out in front off an endline restart who finished to give the Tigers a long awaited first national championship and perfect season at 14-0.
- The Tigers had come up short in 2013 and 2017, including losing by eight to this same Salisbury dynasty in the latter year. They also made Final Fours in 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2018. This marks the 3rd consecutive year that a first time champion has been crowned in Division III, the first time that has happened in the history of the Championship
- Quinn Commandant was incredible for RIT, with 5 goals and 2 assists, including the game tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation
- Salisbury’s loss means that for the first time since 1993, a Sea Gulls senior class did not win a national championship. This is technically cheating, as the COVID year meant the Class of 2021 only played in three NCAA Tournaments as compared to the customary four that all those up until the Class of 2020 before them did. But it does show what an incredible, only matched by a few others in the history of the game run that program has had for over a quarter century now. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see them celebrating on this day next year.
Congratulations to all teams on tremendous seasons and to the national champions! There’s one more game left in this incredible year; Virginia and Maryland for the Men’s D1 National Championship tomorrow at 1 on ESPN2.
NCAA Lacrosse Championship 2021: Virginia Holds off Maryland’s Late Rally, Wins Title | Bleacher Report
Larry French/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Virginia Cavaliers survived a furious late comeback bid by the Maryland Terrapins, winning the NCAA Lacrosse Championship on Monday, 17-16.
Connor Shellenberger and Matt Moore led the Cavaliers, each posting four goals and two assists in the victory, while Jeff Conner notched three goals and an assist.
Virginia took a 16-11 lead with just over 11 minutes in the game before Maryland stormed back, cutting the deficit to one with only 11 seconds remaining. Maryland won the preceding faceoff, and Luke Wierman had an open shot on goal just before time expired, but Virginia goalie Alex Rode made the clutchest of clutch saves, preserving the title for the Cavs.
NCAA Lacrosse @NCAALAX
Virginia holds off in the final moments ?<br><br>? @espn #NCAAMLAX x @UVAMensLax pic.twitter.com/VIKSHghQZy
With the win, Virginia defended its 2020 national championship and won its ninth national title overall.
After the game, Virginia head coach Lars Tiffany had nothing but praise for Rode’s efforts in goal—he had 12 saves—despite Maryland putting 16 on the board:
“He is a fantastic goalie every day. The rest of the country just gets to see it mostly in April and May. He steps up big. It’s funny, I just talked to him. He said, ‘I just won a national championship and I sucked.’ I was like, ‘No, no, you were solid!’ He wants to make 15-20 saves a game, and he thinks he should make more saves. But they’re too talented, Maryland just brings too much good heat.”
NCAA Lacrosse @NCAALAX
Coach Lars Tiffany’s final game thoughts ✊?<br><br>? @espn #NCAAMLAX x @UVAMensLax pic.twitter.com/vrr5OsL0jB
Andy Glockner @AndyGlockner
Lacrosse goalies are a different breed, man. I played soccer and hockey goalie growing up and wanted ZERO part of standing in a lacrosse goal.
Rode’s final heroics and Virginia’s efficient offensive display spoiled a monster performance from Maryland’s Logan Wisnauskas (five goals, one assist, 10 shots).
Jared Bernhardt (two goals, three assists) and Kyle Long (one goal, three assists) had strong performances for the Terrapins as well, who nearly pulled off an epic comeback in the final quarter.
NCAA Lacrosse @NCAALAX
Anthony DeMaio would like to let everyone know THE TERPS ARE STILL IN THIS!!<br><br>? @espn #NCAAMLAX x @TerpsMLax pic.twitter.com/Qb7yikUxyh
Virginia’s bid to repeat as champions after winning the title in 2019 was put on hold last year after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 campaign. The repeat may have been delayed, but it’s hard to imagine the Cavaliers finally getting it in a more dramatic or memorable fashion.
Johns Hopkins Gazette | June 13, 2005
With a dramatic, come-from-behind 9-8 victory against
Duke in the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship,
Johns Hopkins crowned an unforgettable season of perfection
and earned the Blue Jays their eighth national NCAA title
and first since 1987.
The
Blue Jays entered the
championship game, held on May 30 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln
Financial Field, with a 15-0 record and pitted against the
nation’s second-ranked and top-scoring team. In front of a
record crowd of 44,920, sophomore goalie and tournament MVP
Jesse Schwartzman and the rest of the Hopkins defense shut
down the high-powered Blue Devils, allowing just one goal
in the final 30 minutes of play.
Duke carried a 7-6 lead into the second half and
pushed the lead to 8-6 just 2:17 into the third quarter.
However, Hopkins fought back to tie the game 8-8, and then
with 13:35 remaining in the contest, sophomore Jake Byrne
scored what would be the decisive game-winning goal.
With the win, the Blue Jays became only the third team
since 1971 — when the NCAA began sponsoring the men’s
lacrosse national championship — to post a perfect
16-0 record.
“I am so proud of these guys right now,” head coach
Dave Pietramala said in the post-game press conference.
“When we lost a year ago [in the semifinals], people told
us that we quit. They just kept working. When we got back
to campus, they made a commitment that we were just going
to take it one day at a time and we were going to play to
the best of our ability. I’m just so proud of these kids,
our fans and our administration.”
|
Kyle Harrison at Tewaaraton event PHOTO BY HIPS / JAY VAN RENSSELAER |
To think, the team came within 12.9 seconds of once
again ending their season in the semi’s.
In Saturday’s semifinal contest against Virginia, the
Cavaliers had scored the go-ahead and apparent game-winning
goal in the final minute of regular time. A miracle was
needed, and JHU got one in the form of a possession series
that will surely go down in the annals of an already
storied lacrosse history. Greg Peyser won the ensuing
faceoff for the Blue Jays and raced down the right side
into the offensive zone, where he skipped a perfect
cross-field pass to Byrne, who quickly dodged to his left
and launched a strike by the Virginia goalie with 1.4
seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to force the game
into overtime.
In the first overtime period, after a series of clutch
saves by Schwartzman, senior defensive midfielder Benson
Erwin scored only his fourth goal of the season with 50.7
seconds remaining to lift Hopkins to its second NCAA
Championship game in three years. The thrilling, classic
game had already featured a dramatic comeback by the
Cavaliers, a thunderstorm, 46-minute delay and the first
scoreless opening quarter in NCAA playoff history. The win
also helped avenge a Blue Jays loss to Virginia in the 2003
title game.
JHU’s senior class ended its career with a record of
55-6, one national championship and four trips to the Final
Four. Senior standout midfielder Kyle Harrison was
presented on June 2 with the 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy as the
nation’s top player. Harrison, who had been among five
finalists for the award as a sophomore and junior, is the
first Hopkins recipient of the award, which began in
2001.
Harrison concluded a standout career by leading the
Blue Jays to a national championship and their first
undefeated season since 1984. He led the team in goals
(24), assists (20) and points (44), and won 39 of 64 (.609)
faceoffs on the year. He also earned First Team STX/USILA
All-America honors for the second straight season and was
named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, along with
Schwartzman and Peyser.
Pietramala, now in his fifth year as head coach,
became the first person in the history of college lacrosse
to win an NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship as
both a player and head coach. Pietramala was a three-time
First Team All-American during his playing career at Johns
Hopkins and led the Blue Jays to the 1987 NCAA Division I
Championship.
For more lacrosse championship information and photos,
go to
webapps.jhu.edu/jhuniverse/today/lax05.cfm.
KT12 TO 6; MEN’S LACROSSE WINS SIXTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Story Links
East Hartford, Conn. – Championship Most Outstanding Player Matt Hutchings (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) scored a career-high six goals to lead the top-ranked Le Moyne College men’s lacrosse team to the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 12-6 victory over second-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University on Sunday afternoon at Rentschler Field.
The Dolphins, who finished the season with a 15-0 record, claim their sixth national championship, all of which have come in the last 17 complete seasons. The six national titles are the second-most in Division II history and are the most in Division II since the championship was reinstituted in 1993. The Dolphins are the sixth undefeated national champion in Division II history, four of which are Le Moyne.
Will Canata got Lenoir-Rhyne on the scoreboard first at the 13:56 mark off a pass from Eric Dickinson.
Le Moyne answered back with the next two goals to take its first lead of the game. Hutchings tied the score at one with 9:19 left off an assist by redshirt junior midfielder Zach Pierce (Gansevoort, N.Y./Schuylerville/Onondaga C.C.). Junior do-everything midfielder Colin Sypek (Lake Worth, Fla./American Heritage School (Delray Beach)) put the Dolphins up 2-1 with 5:25 left with his 15th goal of the season.
Lenoir-Rhyne answers back eight seconds later to kickstart a three-goal run. Off the faceoff following Sypek’s goal, Zach Bodeau scooped up the ball and raced up field before sending a pass to Dickinson, who fired in his 47th goal of the season. Dickinson netted his second goal of the quarter with 1:07 left to put the Bears back in front. He then opened the scoring in the second quarter at the 13:23 mark off a pass from Myles Moffat.
Le Moyne responded with a three-goal run of its own to take the lead back. Hutchings got the Dolphins within 4-3 with 9:57 left by curling around the left side of the goal after collecting a feed from graduate student attackman Jake Nelson (Charlotte, N.C./Vestal (N.Y.)/Binghamton/Mercer/Syracuse). Just 1:13 later, Hutchings tallied his 20th goal of the season to knot the score at four apiece. With the goal, he passed Gold Wave Hall of Fame member Jim Nee ’99 and Justin Kesselring ’18 for sixth on the program’s career goals list. Senior midfielder Ben McCreary (Cicero, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)) put the Dolphins back in front with 6:33 until halftime with his 25th goal of the campaign.
Dickinson registered his fourth goal of the game and 50th of the season with 4:21 remaining off a pass from Bryce Reece to even the score at five apiece, where it remained going into halftime.
Following almost seven minutes of scoreless action to start the third quarter, the Dolphins exploded for five goals over the next seven minutes. Hutchings ignited the run with his fourth goal of the game at the 8:12 mark after taking a pass from Pierce in an extra-man situation. With the goal, he tied Kevin Kelly ’15 for the fifth-most in the program’s history with 111. Just over two and one-half minutes later, senior attackman Devin Andrews (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy/Stony Brook) danced to the front of the crease to score after taking a pass from the left from Pierce. Another 2:48 later, Pierce corralled a loose ball near the edge of the crease and deposited his eighth goal of the year to make it 8-5 with 2:46 left in the quarter. Just 35 seconds later, Hutchings fired home his fifth goal of the game off a feed from senior midfielder Evan Kelly (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Aquinas Institute). Pierce got the Dolphins into double digits with another unassisted tally with 1:14 left in the quarter.
The Dolphins continued their run with the first two goals of the fourth quarter. Hutchings opened the scoring at the 12:21 mark with his career-best sixth goal of the game after receiving a pass from Pierce. With the goal, Hutchings passed Gold Wave Hall of Fame member Brandon Spillett ’05 for fourth on the career goals list with his 113th. The six goals by Hutchings are the second-most by a Dolphin in the program’s 10 national championship game appearances, trailing just the seven by Spillett in the 2004 game (also on May 30), and are the third-most by a Dolphin in an NCAA tournament game (Mike McDonald scored seven in the 2006 semifinals).
McCreary completed Le Moyne’s scoring with 5:58 remaining by stinging the upper right corner of the net off a feed from Pierce. Pierce’s five assists in the game are the most by a Dolphin in the 10 title game appearances and tie Hutchings from last Sunday for the most by a Dolphin in an NCAA tournament game, while his seven points trail just Spillett’s eight from 2004 for the most in a title game and are tied with McDonald for the second-most in an NCAA tournament game.
Lenoir-Rhyne completed the game’s scoring with 4:14 left as Toron Eccleston scored from the crease off a pass from Moffat.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Frank Delia (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker/Onondaga C.C.) registered a career-high 15 saves, including six in the fourth quarter, to earn his ninth win of the season between the pipes. Senior defenseman Connor Haims (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon), sophomore defenseman Nick Fraterrigo (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) and Sypek each caused two turnovers to lead the defensive effort in holding the nation’s second-highest scoring offense to just one goal in the second half.
Noah Johnson suffered just his second loss of the season for the Bears after posting 12 saves, including five in the second quarter.
