NCAA College Lacrosse: Comprehensive Guide to Men’s News, Scores, and Rankings

How has the landscape of college lacrosse evolved in recent years. What are the top programs dominating the sport. Which players and teams have made significant impacts this season. How do rankings and championships shape the competitive landscape.

The Rise of New Programs in NCAA Lacrosse

The college lacrosse landscape continues to evolve, with new programs emerging and making their mark on the sport. One notable addition is Dominican University of California, which will be introducing NCAA Division II lacrosse for both men’s and women’s teams in the 2023-24 school year. This development is significant for several reasons:

• Dominican will be the only school in California to have both men’s and women’s teams at the NCAA level
• They will initially compete as an independent program
• The university aims to join the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) in the following year
• This expansion highlights the growing popularity and reach of college lacrosse across the country

The addition of new programs like Dominican University demonstrates the sport’s continued growth and the increasing opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level. As more institutions invest in lacrosse programs, we can expect to see a broader talent pool and more competitive matches across all divisions.

Analyzing the 2023 College Lacrosse Season

The 2023 college lacrosse season proved to be a landmark year for the sport, filled with exciting developments and noteworthy achievements. Some of the key highlights include:

• A new champion was crowned, bringing fresh energy to the competitive landscape
• Young programs made significant strides, challenging established powerhouses
• Ongoing discussions and controversies surrounding game rules, indicating a sport in constant evolution

These developments underscore the dynamic nature of college lacrosse and its ability to captivate fans with thrilling gameplay and emerging storylines. The success of new programs and the crowning of a new champion demonstrate that the sport remains open to change and growth, rather than being dominated by a static group of traditional powers.

Impact of Rule Changes and Controversies

Rule changes and controversies have played a significant role in shaping the 2023 season. These discussions often center around:

1. Pace of play
2. Player safety
3. Fairness in competition
4. Technological advancements in equipment

As the sport continues to evolve, it’s crucial for governing bodies, coaches, and players to engage in ongoing dialogue to ensure that lacrosse remains exciting, safe, and fair for all participants.

Legendary Programs: Spotlight on Salisbury University

When discussing elite college lacrosse programs, Salisbury University stands out as a dominant force in Division III. The Sea Gulls’ success can be largely attributed to head coach Jim Berkman, who has built the program into a national powerhouse since his arrival. Under Berkman’s leadership, Salisbury has achieved:

• Multiple national championships
• Consistent top rankings
• A reputation for developing top-tier talent

Salisbury’s success story serves as an inspiration for other programs and demonstrates the impact that strong leadership and a winning culture can have on a team’s long-term success.

Salisbury’s Championship Performance

Salisbury University’s dominance was on full display in their recent Division 3 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship victory over Tufts University. The game showcased Salisbury’s strengths:

• Controlling the pace from the opening whistle
• Strong offensive output
• Stifling defense that left Tufts struggling to keep up

This championship performance further cements Salisbury’s status as a lacrosse powerhouse and sets a high bar for other Division 3 programs to aspire to.

The Importance of Equipment: Focus on Lacrosse Helmets

In the world of college lacrosse, equipment plays a crucial role not only in player safety but also in team identity. Lacrosse helmets, in particular, have become a focal point of attention during the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Lacrosse National Tournament. These helmets serve multiple purposes:

1. Essential protective gear for players
2. Visual representation of team identity
3. Canvas for distinctive designs and colors

The increasing focus on helmet design reflects the growing popularity of the sport and the importance of visual branding in college athletics. As teams invest in unique and eye-catching helmet designs, they not only protect their players but also create a memorable visual identity that resonates with fans and recruits alike.

Ranking the Champions: A Decade of Division I Lacrosse Excellence

Attempting to rank the Division I Lacrosse National Champions from the last ten years is a challenging but intriguing exercise. Each of these championship teams has demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and mental fortitude to claim the title. When evaluating these teams, several factors come into play:

• Overall season record
• Strength of schedule
• Margin of victory in the championship game
• Individual player accolades
• Historical context and program prestige

While rankings are inherently subjective, they provide a valuable framework for discussing the relative strengths of different championship teams and the evolution of the sport over time. It’s important to note that each championship team has left an indelible mark on the sport, regardless of where they might fall in a subjective ranking.

The Tewaaraton Award: Recognizing Lacrosse Excellence

The Tewaaraton Award stands as the most prestigious individual honor in college lacrosse, comparable to football’s Heisman Trophy. Awarded annually to the most outstanding male and female college lacrosse players, the Tewaaraton Award holds significant weight in the lacrosse community. The selection process involves:

1. Evaluation of candidates’ performance and statistics
2. Assessment of players’ impact on their team
3. Consideration of overall contributions to the sport
4. Input from a dedicated selection committee

Winning the Tewaaraton Award not only recognizes individual excellence but also often serves as a springboard for players’ professional careers. The award’s prestige has grown over the years, becoming a coveted honor that motivates players to elevate their game and leave a lasting impact on the sport.

Izzy Scane: A Tewaaraton Award Favorite

In the 2023 season, Northwestern attacker Izzy Scane emerged as a standout player and a favorite for the Tewaaraton Award. Scane’s impact on the field was undeniable:

• Led her team to a national championship
• Demonstrated exceptional scoring ability
• Showed leadership and clutch performance in key moments

Scane’s success story not only highlights her individual talent but also underscores the high level of competition in women’s college lacrosse. Her performance serves as an inspiration for aspiring players and raises the bar for excellence in the sport.

The Impact of Graduate Transfers in College Lacrosse

The role of graduate transfers has become increasingly significant in college lacrosse, as demonstrated by Notre Dame’s success in the 2023 season. Key graduate transfers who made a difference for the Fighting Irish include:

• Brian Tevlin (from Yale)
• Jack Simmons (from Virginia)
• Chris Conlin (from Holy Cross)
• Chris Fake (from Yale)

These experienced players provided crucial contributions in Notre Dame’s semifinal and championship victories. The impact of graduate transfers highlights several important aspects of modern college lacrosse:

1. The value of experience in high-pressure situations
2. The increasing mobility of talented players between programs
3. The strategic importance of roster management for coaches

As the graduate transfer trend continues to shape college lacrosse, it will be interesting to see how programs adapt their recruitment and development strategies to leverage this valuable source of talent.

Championship Performances: Notre Dame’s Path to Glory

Notre Dame’s journey to the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship was marked by impressive performances in both the semifinal and final matches. In the semifinal against Virginia, Notre Dame showcased their resilience and clutch play:

• Secured a nail-biting overtime victory
• Demonstrated strong defensive play
• Received key contributions from graduate transfers

Building on their semifinal success, Notre Dame dominated the championship game against Duke:

• Displayed unwavering control from the opening faceoff
• Showcased a potent offensive attack
• Maintained a stifling defense throughout the game

Notre Dame’s championship run exemplifies the level of skill, preparation, and mental toughness required to succeed at the highest level of college lacrosse. Their victory serves as a testament to the program’s strength and the effective leadership of their coaching staff.

Key Moments in Notre Dame’s Championship Victory

Several crucial moments defined Notre Dame’s championship performance against Duke:

1. Early momentum: Notre Dame’s strong start set the tone for the entire game
2. Defensive dominance: The Fighting Irish’s ability to shut down Duke’s offense was a key factor in their victory
3. Clutch scoring: Timely goals, including Brian Tevlin’s critical 8-7 goal, helped Notre Dame maintain control
4. Composure under pressure: Notre Dame’s ability to withstand Duke’s attempts to claw back into the game demonstrated their mental toughness

These key moments highlight the various elements that contribute to a championship-winning performance in college lacrosse. Notre Dame’s ability to excel in all aspects of the game solidified their place as the top team in the 2023 season.

Division II Lacrosse: Lenoir-Rhyne’s Dominant Championship Run

The Division II Men’s Lacrosse National Championship saw an impressive display of dominance from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Their convincing 20-5 victory over Mercyhurst University showcased the team’s strengths on both ends of the field. Key aspects of Lenoir-Rhyne’s championship performance include:

• Explosive offensive output
• Stifling defense that limited Mercyhurst’s scoring opportunities
• Control of the game from the opening faceoff
• Depth and versatility across the roster

Lenoir-Rhyne’s dominant victory serves as a testament to the high level of play in Division II lacrosse and highlights the potential for programs outside of Division I to achieve excellence. Their performance sets a new standard for success in Division II and may inspire other programs to elevate their level of play.

Implications for Division II Lacrosse

Lenoir-Rhyne’s championship run has several implications for the Division II lacrosse landscape:

1. Raises the bar for competitive excellence in the division
2. May attract more attention and resources to Division II programs
3. Could inspire more talented players to consider Division II as a viable path
4. Demonstrates the potential for programs to build dynasties at this level

As Division II lacrosse continues to grow and evolve, performances like Lenoir-Rhyne’s serve as benchmarks for success and motivate other programs to strive for similar levels of excellence.

The Future of College Lacrosse: Trends and Predictions

As college lacrosse continues to evolve, several trends and potential developments are worth watching:

1. Expansion of programs: More schools may add lacrosse programs, particularly in regions where the sport is growing in popularity
2. Increased parity: As the talent pool expands, we may see more teams challenging traditional powerhouses
3. Rule changes: Ongoing discussions about pace of play and safety may lead to further rule modifications
4. Technology integration: Advancements in equipment and analytics may reshape how the game is played and coached
5. Media coverage: Growing popularity may lead to increased broadcast and streaming options for fans

These potential developments suggest an exciting future for college lacrosse, with opportunities for growth, innovation, and increased competitiveness across all divisions. As the sport continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how programs adapt and thrive in this changing landscape.

Challenges and Opportunities

The future of college lacrosse also presents several challenges and opportunities:

• Balancing tradition with innovation
• Ensuring equitable growth across men’s and women’s programs
• Addressing concerns about player safety and long-term health
• Expanding the sport’s reach to new audiences and regions
• Navigating the changing landscape of college athletics, including NIL policies and transfer rules

How the lacrosse community addresses these challenges and capitalizes on opportunities will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the sport at the collegiate level. The continued success and growth of college lacrosse will depend on the ability of administrators, coaches, and players to adapt to these changing dynamics while preserving the core elements that make the sport exciting and meaningful.

NCAA – Lacrosse All Stars

Dominican University of California will be adding NCAA Division II Lacrosse for both men’s and women’s for the 2023-24 school year as an independent, hoping to join the RMAC the following year. They will be the only school in California to have both their men’s and women’s teams at the NCAA level and the second […]

The 2023 college lacrosse season was remarkable in so many ways. A brand new champion was crowned, young programs made significant steps, and shockingly there was more controversy surrounding the current rules of the game. All in all, the game is as strong as it’s ever been and the 2023 college season has set us […]

When people talk about the elite college lacrosse programs, they often mention Salisbury University and its dominance over Division III since the early 90s. Part of the reason for that was the arrival of Jim Berkman to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The man in charge quickly built the Sea Gulls into a national power, and Salisbury […]

As the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Lacrosse National Tournament captivates sports fans across the country, it’s not just the thrilling gameplay and remarkable athleticism that catch the eye. The teams’ lacrosse helmets, are on full display with distinctive designs and colors. These helmets not only serve as essential protective gear for the players but also […]

Here we go again with the age-old question. Who’s the king of kings? Jordan or LeBron? Coke or Pepsi? In this article, we will try to rank the Division I Lacrosse National Champions from the last ten years and see who the alpha of all the alphas would be. Each of these teams demonstrated exceptional […]

The Tewaaraton Award is an annual award given to the most outstanding lacrosse player in college lacrosse, both on the men’s and women’s sides. It is considered the most prestigious individual award in the sport of lacrosse. The selection process involves a committee that evaluates the candidates’ performance, statistics, impact on their team, and contributions […]

Notre Dame graduate transfers made the difference in May. Brian Tevlin (Yale), Jack Simmons (Virginia), Chris Conlin (Holy Cross), and Chris Fake (Yale) were key figures in the Irish semifinal and Memorial Day wins. Tevlin delivered the game-winner on Saturday against Virginia and scored the critical 8-7 goal on Monday after Duke had clawed back […]

In a highly anticipated clash between two lacrosse powerhouses, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish showcased their defensive prowess and offensive firepower to secure a resounding victory over the Duke Blue Devils in the Division 1 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship. From the opening faceoff to the final whistle, Notre Dame displayed unwavering control and determination, shutting […]

There were few players whose impact was felt at the level of Northwestern attacker Izzy Scane. The graduate senior (who will return for one more year thanks to a medical redshirt) is not only the favorite to win the Tewaaraton Award, she can now claim the title of national champion. The Northwestern Wildcats claimed their […]

Salisbury University’s showcased an exceptional display of dominance as they claimed the Division 3 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship title with a resounding victory over Tufts University. From the opening whistle, Salisbury dictated the pace of the game, leaving Tufts struggling to keep up. The contest can be dissected into four distinct quarters, each contributing to […]

In a thrilling showdown for the Division 2 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship, Lenoir-Rhyne University left no doubt about their dominance as they steamrolled Mercyhurst University with a resounding 20-5 victory. From the opening faceoff to the final whistle, Lenoir-Rhyne showcased their prowess on both ends of the field, leaving their opponents struggling to find answers. […]

The lacrosse world was treated to a captivating showdown as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish collided with the Virginia Cavaliers in a high-stakes battle for a spot in the NCAA D1 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship. In a contest filled with suspense and exhilarating moments, it was Notre Dame who prevailed in a nail-biting overtime victory, […]

College Lacrosse Final Four Takes Over Philly Memorial Day Weekend – Sportico.

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May 24, 2023 8:30am

Virginia men’s lacrosse won the 2021 national title against Maryland in front of a COVID-restricted 14,816 fans.

Photo by Larry French/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Happy Wednesday, SporticoU readers. From all of us at Sportico, we’d like to wish you a beautiful and meaningful Memorial Day weekend. As we honor those who have given their lives in service to our country, we also thank those within our college world at the service academies—our nation’s future heroes.

Military academies have a long history in college athletics. Army and Navy, for example, kicked off their football rivalry all the way back in 1890. Along with Air Force, the three academies compete yearly for the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy. Fun fact? Though it is the youngest of the five service academies, Air Force has the most victories with 21 to Navy’s 16 and Army’s nine. The trophy has also been shared five times, including in 2021. How’s that for sportsmanship?

Each year, this particular long weekend also marks the culmination of the college lacrosse season. The women’s Final Four—featuring Northwestern, Denver, Syracuse and 2021 champion Boston College—will play down in Cary, N.C., and the men’s slate will descend upon Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

Since the event started in 1971, all men’s lacrosse national titles have been won by just 11 teams, two of whom will play for another this weekend. Duke will look to claim its fourth championship, while Virginia is on the hunt for its eighth (go ‘Hoos). Notre Dame has played in two national championship games but has yet to bring one home; Penn State, making its second semifinal appearance in five seasons, will look to take down the top-seeded Blue Devils en route to the program’s first final. 

What’s particularly interesting about the men’s NCAA lacrosse national championship is its attendance numbers over the last two decades. In the early 2000s, lacrosse fans flocked to the Memorial Day weekend Final Four festivities. More than 40,000 spectators would pack the stands for the college season’s grand finale. The crowd peaked in 2008 when a record 48,970 fans watched Syracuse beat a Paul Rabil–led Johns Hopkins, and then…. a decline started. It was a relatively quick one, too.

By 2012, attendance at the men’s lacrosse championship game was 30,816. That number didn’t cross the 30k threshold again until 2019, when 31,528 fans watched Virginia win the 2019 NCAA finals (as I said, go ‘Hoos) in the last pre-pandemic tournament. But in the aftermath of COVID, attendance hasn’t fully recovered. Only 22,184 fans attended Maryland’s 9-7 win over Cornell in East Hartford, Conn., in 2022 when all attendance restrictions were lifted—the event’s smallest crowd since 2002 outside of a still COVID-constricted 2021 event attended by 14,816 fans. I’ll let you guess who won then ;).

It will be interesting to see what tale this weekend tells. To be clear, declining attendance isn’t limited to college lacrosse. In fact, college football has been pretty publicly working to combat the same problem, as fewer and fewer fans feel drawn to the in-person experience despite the best efforts and creative offerings of athletic departments across the country. In 2022, attendance at FBS football games increased for the first time in eight years after 2021’s average marked the lowest since 1981. Even the College Football Playoff championship game has faced a similar trajectory to lacrosse. More than 85,000 fans attended the first iteration of college football’s new finale in 2014. Those numbers dropped to 76,885 in 2019 and just 68,311 and 72,628 in 2021 and 2022, respectively, post-pandemic.

Will bringing the men’s championship back to a lacrosse hotbed like Philadelphia, with two blue bloods also in the mix, be the lift the weekend needs to entice a more sizable audience?

The rest of the spring sports postseason is also in full swing, pun intended. Stanford’s Rose Zhang won her second consecutive individual women’s golf title at just 19. If you haven’t seen her play, this is your sign. She’s the first player to ever win multiple titles in women’s college golf. On the diamond side of things, the 16-team field for the softball super regionals is set. Guess who won’t be there? UCLA (or Tom Brady). The second-seeded Bruins were bounced by Liberty on Saturday night, ending a streak of reaching the Women’s College World Series every season since 2015. The men’s College World Series is still to come.

Until next time, enjoy the warming weather!

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Lacrosse – Variations – Tutorialspoint

Lacrosse has many variations, each with minor or major rules. In this chapter, we will discuss the different variations of lacrosse.

Box Lacrosse

Lacrosse was generally played on large fields until the 1930s. Canadian hockey arena owners then created a smaller version of lacrosse called box lacrosse so they could make more profit from their arenas.

Box lacrosse consists of two teams of six players each. It is played on a hockey field where the ice is removed or replaced with artificial turf. It can also be played on an indoor lacrosse course. The playing area is enclosed in a box line rather than an open field as in a lacrosse field. Here, the goal marks are smaller than those of field lacrosse, which are 4 feet by 4 feet at either end of the box.

Since there is more action in a small playing area, the goalkeeper should wear more protective pads, which include a chest protector and protective devices, called tops , large shin guards, called leg pads, and a mask or ice hockey-style helmets specifically designed for lacrosse.

Box lacrosse match is quick and fast. After receiving the ball, the attacking team tries to score within 30 seconds. If the ball is on the defensive side, the players must move the ball over the midfield line within 10 seconds.

In the event of a violation, the player is sent to the penalty area and the match continues without him for two minutes (5 minutes of the main penalty if assessed). Unlike field lacrosse, a player cannot be suspended if they are involved in a fight.

Women’s lacrosse

There are very different rules for women’s lacrosse than for men’s. Equipment and accounting for physical contact are the most significant.

This sport does not allow physical contact, mainly because the player’s only protective equipment is mouth and face protection. Face guards are optional worldwide except in the US where they are mandatory. There is a stick check here as well as a body check.

A typical women’s lacrosse match begins with two players placing their crosses in the air in front of them over their hips, with the ball placed between the heads of the crosses.

College Lacrosse

In the US, lacrosse is played on both club and sanctioned teams at the college level. There are currently 88 NCAA-sanctioned Division I lacrosse teams, 46 Division II lacrosse teams, and 208 Division III lacrosse teams. For women there are currently 91 Division I women’s lacrosse team, 57 Division II women’s lacrosse teams, and 201 Division III women’s lacrosse teams.

There are 209 men’s teams that compete at the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) level, which includes most major US universities. An additional 107 schools have club teams in the National College Lacrosse League (NCLL).

Field Lacrosse

Field lacrosse is played around the world with ten players per team. The team is divided into forwards, midfielders and defenders.

• Attackers – Attackers are not allowed to cross the middle of the field. They can only do so if they are replaced by a midfielder.

• Midfielders . Midfielders can move to any part of the field, which also helps prevent the other team from being beaten. Predominantly, midfielders pass the ball between the forwards and defenders of their team.

• Protectors – Defenders are the main ones who prevent opponents from scoring a goal. Defenders have longer sticks than attackers and midfielders.

Attackers – Attackers are not allowed to cross the middle of the field. They can only do so if they are replaced by a midfielder.

Midfielders . Midfielders can move to any part of the field, which also helps prevent the other team from being beaten. Predominantly, midfielders pass the ball between the forwards and defenders of their team.

Defenders – Defenders are the main ones who prevent the opponents from scoring a goal. Defenders have longer sticks than attackers and midfielders.

Major League Lacrosse

Major League Lacrosse was launched in 1999 in the USA. Several standard rules are followed, but there are exceptions. In 1999, 56 matches were played from April to August. In 2001, six teams participated, and in 2015, eight.

Major League Lacrosse Kick Clock is a 60-second timer that starts when a team has possession of the ball in the offensive half of the field. The attacking team has 60 seconds to shoot on goal. The kick must hit the net, or at least hit the net or the goalkeeper in some way. If the kick time runs out while attacking, the opposing team receives the ball in the center of the field and restarts the game with a throw-in.

National Student Athlete Day in USA / April 6, 2023

Date in the current year: April 6, 2023

National Student Athlete Day in USA is celebrated annually on April 6th. It was created in 1987 to celebrate the achievements of high school students and college student athletes, and to encourage students to play sports.

In the United States of America, high school and college sports are more than just popular extracurricular activities. Some high school sports are highly sought after because excelling in them gives students the chance to win sports scholarships and reduce or even avoid student loans. Each year, about 8 million student athletes compete at the high school level, and about half a million college students become NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) athletes.

The most popular sports among male high school students (by number of participants) are American football, outdoor track and field, basketball, baseball and football, while high school girls prefer outdoor track and field, volleyball, basketball, football and softball. Other popular high school sports include cross country running, tennis, swimming and diving, wrestling, golf, lacrosse, cheerleading, and indoor track and field.

Collegiate sports in the United States have two main levels. The first level includes sports sanctioned by the NCAA, another collegiate sports governing body, or a separate sanctioning organization. There is a very high level of competition and participation is possible only for students with the highest quality of sports training. The second level includes intra-collegiate and recreational sports, which are available to less experienced student athletes.

Unlike many other countries, college sports are very important in the US; some games are even televised. They help promote diversity in colleges, provide economic value through ticket and merchandise sales, and create jobs for coaches, instructors, and administrative staff. The most popular college sports in terms of attendance are American football, hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, and volleyball.

National Student Athletes Day was established in 1987 by the Institute for Sports and Social Justice, an organization committed to harnessing the power of sport to create positive social change through empowerment and education. It is sponsored by the NCAA and NFHS (National Federation of Public High School Associations). The main purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the academic and sporting achievements of student-athletes, as well as their contributions to their schools and communities.

In conjunction with National Student Athletes Day, the Institute of Sports and Social Justice hosts the annual Giant Steps and Hall of Fame Gala to recognize outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to high school and college sports in several categories: “ Courageous Student-Athlete”, “Public Activist”, “Coach”, “Barrier Breaker” and “A Hero Among Us”.

There are many ways for residents and visitors to the United States to celebrate National Student Athlete Day and celebrate the achievements of student athletes. For example, you could attend a local high school or college game, encourage your child to take up sports, donate to a non-profit organization that supports talented underprivileged student athletes, and promote the holiday on social media with the hashtags #NationalStudentAthleteDay and #StudentAthleteDay.