Full 2026 NCAA lacrosse season recap, champions crowned, transfer portal tracking, and recruiting news for the 2027 season.
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Updated: June 20, 2026
NCAA college lacrosse is the highest level of amateur lacrosse in the United States, featuring over 500 programs across Division I, II, and III for both men and women. Division I programs offer athletic scholarships, compete in power conferences, and produce the majority of pro players. The season runs from February through Memorial Day, culminating in championship tournaments broadcast on ESPN. Whether you're a recruit, fan, or parent, understanding the college landscape helps you appreciate the sport's depth and find your path forward.
| Team / Detail | Record / Info | Status / Seed |
|---|---|---|
| Men's DI Teams | 78 | Full scholarships |
| Men's DII Teams | 78 | Partial scholarships |
| Men's DIII Teams | 248 | No scholarships |
| Women's DI Teams | 117 | Full scholarships |
| Championship Format | 18-team (M) / 29-team (W) | Single elimination |
| 2026 Men's Final | May 25, Charlottesville, VA | Scott Stadium |
| 2026 Women's Champion | Northwestern (14-11 vs UNC) | 9th title 🏆 |
How many college lacrosse teams are there?
There are over 500 NCAA lacrosse programs: 78 men's DI, 78 men's DII, 248 men's DIII, 117 women's DI, and additional DII/DIII women's programs. Club lacrosse (MCLA, NCLL) adds hundreds more teams.
When is the college lacrosse season?
The NCAA season runs from February through Memorial Day. Conference tournaments happen in late April, the NCAA selection show is the first Sunday in May, and the championship is Memorial Day weekend.
How does a team qualify for the NCAA tournament?
Teams qualify via automatic bids (winning their conference tournament) or at-large selections by the NCAA committee. Men's DI has 18 teams (10 auto-bids, 8 at-large). Women's DI has 29 teams (15 auto-bids, 14 at-large).
🏆 2026 Men's DI Champion: Princeton — Final #1 in polls. Full final standings and rankings archived below.
| Team / Detail | Record / Info | Status / Seed |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Princeton | 17-2 | 🏆 NATIONAL CHAMPION (Beat Duke 14-7 SF; Beat ND 16-9 Final) |
| 2. Notre Dame | 13-3 | Runner-up (Beat Syracuse 15-7 SF; Lost to Princeton 9-16 Final) |
| 3. North Carolina | 10-4 | Eliminated by Syracuse 11-13 QF |
| 4. Richmond | 14-2 | Eliminated by Duke 12-14 1st Rd |
| 5. Virginia | 7-6 | Eliminated by Georgetown 10-14 1st Rd |
| 6. Syracuse | 13-6 | Eliminated by Notre Dame 7-15 SF |
| 7. Cornell | 8-4 | Eliminated by Hopkins 8-9 (OT) |
| 8. Penn State | 10-7 | Eliminated by Princeton 10-14 QF |
| 9. Georgetown | 11-6 | Eliminated by Duke 6-16 QF |
| 10. Johns Hopkins | 10-7 | Eliminated by ND 9-15 QF |
| 11. Duke | 11-5 | Eliminated by Princeton 7-14 SF |
| 12. Yale | 13-5 | Eliminated by Syracuse 15-16 |
| 13. Harvard | 9-2 | Did not advance |
| 14. Army | 14-4 | Lost to Penn State 6-10 |
| 15. Maryland | 6-4 | Did not qualify |
🏆 2026 Women's DI Champion: Northwestern — 9th national title. Full final standings and rankings archived below.
| Team / Detail | Record / Info | Status / Seed |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Northwestern | 19-3 | #1 Seed → 🏆 NATIONAL CHAMPION (Beat JHU 16-11 SF; Beat UNC 14-11 Final) |
| 2. North Carolina | 19-3 | #2 Seed → Runner-up (Beat Maryland 16-6 SF; Lost to NU 11-14 Final) |
| 3. Maryland | 18-5 | #3 Seed (Eliminated by UNC 6-16 SF) |
| 4. Johns Hopkins | 17-6 | #4 Seed (Eliminated by NU 11-16 SF) |
| 5. Stony Brook | 19-3 | #5 Seed (Eliminated by JHU 12-13) |
| 6. Navy | 18-2 | #6 Seed (Eliminated by Maryland 10-14) |
| 7. Michigan | 12-7 | #7 Seed (Eliminated) |
| 8. Colorado | 16-4 | #8 Seed (Eliminated by NU 12-13 2OT) |
| 9. Florida | 15-3 | Eliminated (1st Round) |
| 10. Stanford | 15-5 | Eliminated by UNC 11-14 |
| 11. Syracuse | 13-5 | Lost to Navy OT 10-11 |
| 12. Denver | 15-3 | Lost to Colorado 9-11 |
| 13. Boston College | 11-6 | Lost to Stony Brook 9-10 |
| 14. Rutgers | 11-7 | Beat Princeton, lost to Maryland |
| 15. Clemson | 14-5 | Lost to UNC 6-17 |
2026 season final stats: Aidan Carroll led men's scoring, Izzy Scane led women's. 🏆 Tewaaraton Winners: Shawn Lyght (Notre Dame) — first defenseman to win men's Tewaaraton; Madison Taylor (Northwestern) — women's Tewaaraton. 🎓 Honda Sport Award (June 11): Madison Taylor named national lacrosse winner. Full leaderboards archived below.
🏆 2026 Season Complete — Princeton won the Men's DI Championship (16-9 vs Notre Dame), Northwestern won the Women's DI Championship (9th title). Full game results archived below.
🏆 PRINCETON WINS 7TH NATIONAL TITLE — First since 2001 (25 years). Chad Palumbo 4G (all in first half, Player of the Game); Colin Burns hat trick; Ryan Croddick Most Outstanding Player of Final Four (13 saves in final, 33 across Final Four, 59% save percentage). Princeton led 11-3 at halftime. Tigers finish 17-2; Notre Dame finishes 13-3.
🏆 NORTHWESTERN WINS 9TH NATIONAL TITLE — Gabriella McCollester career-high 4G; Madison Taylor GWG + 6A; first DI team to win on home field since 1986 (Maryland). NU avenges 2025 championship loss to UNC. Northwestern finishes 19-3; UNC finishes 19-2.
🏆 TUFTS WINS 3RD STRAIGHT DIII TITLE (6th in program history) — Jumbos led 11-6 at halftime; dominated from start. Tufts won 2024, 2025 & 2026 titles.
🏆 TAMPA WINS DII TITLE IN OT — Tommy Ortega tied it late in 4th, then scored OT winner; 5th player in DII history with OT championship winner. Avenges 2025 OT final loss to Adelphi. Tampa's first title since 2022. Adelphi's three-peat bid falls short.
🏆 MIDDLEBURY WINS 5TH STRAIGHT DIII WOMEN'S TITLE — All-NESCAC final; Panthers add to dynasty after surviving Tufts 10-9 (OT) in semifinal. Wesleyan's first-ever championship appearance.
🏆 FLORIDA SOUTHERN WINS DII WOMEN'S TITLE — Mocs win 2nd championship (first since 2016), defeating Maryville 9-7; led 9-2 before late rally. Florida Southern adds to their legacy after a dominant tournament run.
Wesleyan (CT) 5, Salisbury 4 — Defensive battle; Cardinals advance to DIII women's championship vs Middlebury.
Middlebury 10, Tufts 9 (OT) — Panthers survive! Tufts rallied from 8-1 deficit, tied it with 3 seconds left, but Caroline Adams scored GWG in OT on woman-up. Middlebury advances to DIII women's championship vs Wesleyan (CT), seeking 5th straight title.
Northwestern 16, Johns Hopkins 11 - Maddie Epke career game (4G/2A); scored in final minute of 1st half for 10-3 lead; Madison Taylor continued dominant season. NU ends JHU's first-ever Final Four run. JHU finishes 17-5.
North Carolina 16, Maryland 6 - Defending champs dominated on 13-3 run after 3-3 tie; Chloe Humphrey 5G/2A, Addison Pattillo 5G (5th straight hat trick), Kate Levy 3G. UNC held Maryland to 1 goal in final 27 min. 37 shots to 23. Maryland finishes 18-4.
#1 Princeton advances to Final Four with 5-0 run in final 14 minutes. Andrew McMeekin dominated faceoffs (19-of-27, 12 GBs); Tucker Wade 4G; Chad Palumbo 3G/2A (101st career goal). Princeton reaches 12th Final Four. Penn State finishes 10-7.
Duke rolls into 15th Championship Weekend - most lopsided QF since 2021. Max Sloat 4G/1A, Benn Johnston 3G. Georgetown went 32+ minutes without a goal after scoring first. Hoya's 12th consecutive QF loss. Duke is first unseeded team to reach Final Four since 2017 Towson.
Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7 - Defending champions dominate, advance to face RIT in championship game May 24
#1 Adelphi 19, #3 Molloy 4 - Panthers dominant; Braden Donnellan 7 assists, Michael Durning 5G. Adelphi aims for 3rd straight DII title.
#1 Tampa 13, #7 Anderson (SC) 7 - Spartans advance; Aaron Cho 4G/1A, Rex Kesselring hat trick. Rematch of 2025 title game vs Adelphi set for May 24.
Notre Dame advances to Championship Weekend for 3rd time in 4 years. Josh Yago career-high 7 pts (4G, 3A), Matt Jeffery 5 pts (2G, 3A). Irish broke open 6-6 halftime tie with dominant 2nd half. Hopkins finishes 10-6.
Syracuse upsets #3 UNC - Orange overcame 6-2 deficit with 6-0 run. Joey Spallina 6 pts (3G, 3A), Johnny Mullen won 14-of-27 faceoffs vs Brady Wambach. Finn Thomson GWG, Jimmy McCool 12 saves. Syracuse returns to Final Four.
#1 Tufts 22, York (PA) 9 - Defending champions dominate, advance to face Wesleyan in semifinal
Wesleyan (CT) 15, Christopher Newport 7 - Cardinals advance to face Tufts in semifinal
RIT 16, Bowdoin 12 - Tigers advance to DIII championship game; RIT beat Bowdoin for 2nd time this season
#5 Stony Brook 19, Stonehill 5 - Seawolves roll past Skyhawks
Rutgers 12, Princeton 11 - Scarlet Knights upset in-state rival
#4 Johns Hopkins 21, UAlbany 7 - Blue Jays dominate Great Danes
#6 Navy 17, UMass 16 - Midshipmen survive high-scoring affair
#7 Michigan 18, Mercer 8 - Wolverines advance comfortably
Boston College 10, Yale 4 - Eagles roll past Bulldogs
James Madison 13, Notre Dame 12 - Dukes edge Fighting Irish
Clemson 19, Davidson 6 - Tigers roll past Davidson
Army 20, Fairfield 8 - Black Knights dominate
#8 Colorado 10, Jacksonville 9 - Buffaloes edge Dolphins
Stanford 7, Penn State 5 - Cardinal advance past Nittany Lions
Syracuse 8, Loyola Maryland 6 - Orange hold off Greyhounds
Denver 18, Florida 8 - Pioneers dominate Gators
#2 Notre Dame 18, Jacksonville 5 - Fighting Irish dominant; Luke Miller 5 goals, Thomas Ricciardelli 17 saves
#1 Princeton 17, Marist 8 - Chad Palumbo 6 goals, Nate Kabiri 3G/5A, Ryan Croddick 14 saves
#6 Syracuse 16, Yale 15 - Orange survive thriller, Joey Spallina leads
Georgetown 14, #5 Virginia 10 - MAJOR UPSET: Hoyas' first-ever win over Cavaliers, never trailed after halftime
#3 North Carolina 24, UAlbany 6 - Dominic Pietramala sets NCAA tournament record with 10 goals, also breaks UNC career goals record (129, passing Bert Fett's 128)
#8 Penn State 10, Army 6 - #8 seed holds off tough Army squad
Johns Hopkins 9, #7 Cornell 8 (OT) - Dramatic overtime upset, #7 seed Cornell eliminated
Duke 14, #4 Richmond 12 - #4 seed Richmond upset by ACC rival Duke
#4 Johns Hopkins 21, Army 13 - Blue Jays offense rolls into quarterfinals
#3 Maryland 11, Rutgers 8 - Terps advance to face Navy in quarterfinals
#2 North Carolina 17, Clemson 6 - Chloe Humphrey leads dominant Heels
#5 Stony Brook 10, Boston College 9 - Seawolves edge Eagles in thriller
Stanford 13, #7 Michigan 12 - UPSET: Stanford knocks off 7-seed Wolverines
#6 Navy 11, Syracuse 10 (OT) - Full 4th quarter comeback, OT winner for Midshipmen
#1 Northwestern 17, James Madison 5 - Wildcats dominant at home
#8 Colorado 11, Denver 9 - Buffaloes advance to face Northwestern
#2 Bowdoin 20, Hope 7 - Polar Bears set school record with 19th win; end Hope's unbeaten season; Huck Trafton 4G/1A
RIT 21, #3 Babson 14 - Erich Acton career-high 7G + 3A; Ryan Sanders 4G/7A (11 pts); RIT forces 22 turnovers
#1 Adelphi 12, #4 Pace 5 - Panthers roll into semifinals
#1 Tampa 12, #4 Lewis 9 - Spartans advance to semifinals
#3 Molloy 12, Saint Michael's 7 - Lions advance
#7 Anderson (SC) 9, #6 Lenoir-Rhyne 7 - Trojans continue Cinderella run into semifinals
Marist 10, Stony Brook 6 - Marist advances to face #1 Princeton
Jacksonville 13, Robert Morris 7 - Jacksonville advances to face #2 Notre Dame
#4 Johns Hopkins 13, #5 Stony Brook 12 - BUZZER BEATER: Taylor Hoss scores at horn; Reagan O'Brien forced 2 late turnovers; JHU's first-ever Final Four; Hoss career-best 9 pts (3G, 6A), Angello broke single-season & career goal records (78G, 236 career)
#1 Northwestern 13, #8 Colorado 12 (2OT) - Noel Cumberland golden goal in double OT; NU trailed by 3 in 2nd half; Madison Taylor 5 pts; NU outdrew Colorado 20-8
#3 Maryland 14, #6 Navy 10 - 4th-quarter surge; 6 Terps with multiple goals; Navy's Alyssa Chung 7 pts despite tight defense; Maryland returns to semis for 1st time since 2022
#2 North Carolina 14, Stanford 11 - UNC advances to 15th semifinal
The 2026 championship weekend is complete. Men's DI: Princeton 16, Notre Dame 9 · Women's DI: Northwestern 14, North Carolina 11. Details archived below.
🏆 PRINCETON WINS 7TH NATIONAL TITLE — First since 2001 (25 years). Chad Palumbo 4G (all in first half, Player of the Game); Colin Burns hat trick; Ryan Croddick Most Outstanding Player of Final Four (13 saves in final, 33 across Final Four, 59% save percentage). Princeton led 11-3 at halftime. Tigers finish 17-2; Notre Dame finishes 13-3.
🏆 NORTHWESTERN WINS 9TH NATIONAL TITLE — Gabriella McCollester career-high 4G; Madison Taylor GWG + 6A; first DI team to win on home field since 1986 (Maryland). NU avenges 2025 championship loss to UNC. Northwestern finishes 19-3; UNC finishes 19-2.
🏆 TUFTS WINS 3RD STRAIGHT DIII TITLE (6th in program history) — Jumbos led 11-6 at halftime; dominated from start. Tufts won 2024, 2025 & 2026 titles.
🏆 TAMPA WINS DII TITLE IN OT — Tommy Ortega tied it late in 4th, then scored OT winner; 5th player in DII history with OT championship winner. Avenges 2025 OT final loss to Adelphi. Tampa's first title since 2022.
Princeton 14, Duke 7 - Ryan Croddick made 20 saves (most in NCAA semifinal since 1995); Colin Burns 4G; Nate Kabiri 3G/2A; Jake Vana hat trick; Duke's starting midfield shot 0-for-18; Benn Johnston 3G for Duke. Princeton advances to championship. Duke finishes 11-5.
Notre Dame 15, Syracuse 7 - Irish scored 5 man-up goals; Josh Yago 3G/4A (7 pts); Thomas Ricciardelli 14 saves; Shawn Lyght held Joey Spallina to 0G (2A only, 6 shots); 10 different ND scorers; Syracuse scoreless for final 16:39. ND advances to championship. Syracuse finishes 13-6.
RESULT: Northwestern 16, Johns Hopkins 11 - ✅ PREDICTION CORRECT (predicted NU 14-11). Maddie Epke career game (4G/2A); scored in final minute of 1st half for 10-3 lead; Madison Taylor continued dominant season. NU ends JHU's first-ever Final Four run.
RESULT: North Carolina 16, Maryland 6 - ✅ PREDICTION CORRECT (predicted UNC 13-10). Defending champs dominated on 13-3 run after 3-3 tie; Chloe Humphrey 5G/2A, Addison Pattillo 5G (5th straight hat trick), Kate Levy 3G. UNC held Maryland to 1 goal in final 27 min. 37 shots to 23.
Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7 - Defending champions dominate; Jumbos advance to face RIT in championship game May 24 at Scott Stadium
#1 Adelphi 19, #3 Molloy 4 - Braden Donnellan 7 assists, Michael Durning 5G. #1 Tampa 13, #7 Anderson (SC) 7 - Aaron Cho 4G/1A, Rex Kesselring hat trick. Championship: Adelphi vs Tampa (rematch of 2025 final) May 24 at Scott Stadium
2026 tournament predictions are complete. Final accuracy: 6/8 (75%) for pre-game picks. Full prediction results archived below.
The 2026 NCAA tournament brackets are complete. Men's DI: Princeton · Women's DI: Northwestern. Full bracket details archived below.
Princeton 14, Penn State 10 - Tigers outscored PSU 5-0 in final 14 min; Andrew McMeekin 19-of-27 FOs, 12 GBs; Tucker Wade 4G; Chad Palumbo 3G/2A. Princeton advances to 12th Final Four.
Duke 16, Georgetown 6 - Most lopsided QF since 2021; matched largest QF margin ever for an unseeded team; Max Sloat 4G/1A, Benn Johnston 3G; Georgetown went 32+ min without a goal. Duke reaches 15th Championship Weekend; first unseeded team since 2017. Hoya's 12th consecutive QF loss.
Princeton 14, Duke 7 - Croddick 20 saves (most in semifinal since 1995); Burns 4G; Kabiri 3G/2A; Vana hat trick; Duke midfield 0-for-18. Princeton advances to championship. Duke finishes 11-5.
Notre Dame 15, Syracuse 7 - 5 man-up goals; Yago 3G/4A; Ricciardelli 14 saves; Lyght held Spallina to 0G; 10 ND scorers; Syracuse scoreless for final 16:39. ND advances to championship. Syracuse finishes 13-6.
🏆 PRINCETON WINS 7TH NATIONAL TITLE — First since 2001 (25 years). Chad Palumbo 4G (all in first half, Player of the Game); Colin Burns hat trick; Ryan Croddick Most Outstanding Player of Final Four (13 saves in final, 33 across Final Four, 59% save percentage). Princeton led 11-3 at halftime. Tigers finish 17-2; Notre Dame finishes 13-3.
🏆 TUFTS WINS 3RD STRAIGHT DIII TITLE (6th in program history) — Jumbos led 11-6 at halftime; dominated from start. Tufts won 2024, 2025 & 2026 titles.
🏆 TAMPA WINS DII TITLE IN OT — Tommy Ortega tied it late in 4th, then scored OT winner; 5th player in DII history with OT championship winner. Avenges 2025 OT final loss to Adelphi. Tampa's first title since 2022.
Northwestern 16, Johns Hopkins 11 - Maddie Epke career game (4G/2A); scored in final minute of 1st half for 10-3 lead; Madison Taylor continued dominant season. NU ends JHU's first-ever Final Four run.
North Carolina 16, Maryland 6 - Defending champs on 13-3 run after 3-3 tie; Chloe Humphrey 5G/2A, Addison Pattillo 5G (5th straight hat trick), Kate Levy 3G. UNC held Maryland to 1 goal in final 27 min. 37 shots to 23.
🏆 NORTHWESTERN WINS 9TH NATIONAL TITLE — Gabriella McCollester career-high 4G; Madison Taylor GWG + 6A; first DI team to win on home field since 1986 (Maryland). NU avenges 2025 championship loss. Northwestern finishes 19-3; UNC finishes 19-2.
Updated: July 12, 2026
🆕 July 12: Off-season coaching carousel keeps spinning — Mercer's Ryan Danehy resigned to become Ohio State offensive coordinator (July 10), creating a new DI men's opening in Macon; Fairfield hired seven-time national champion David Metzbower as associate head coach/offensive coordinator (July 10); Ohio State added Kyle Gallagher as defensive coordinator (July 7); Michigan completed its 2027 staff by hiring DIII legend Jacob DeCola from Albion (July 6); Dartmouth hired Boston College national-champion goalie Shea Dolce as assistant coach (July 8). On the player side, Delaware women added Niagara transfer Avery Olschefskie (July 8), Syracuse women announced five 2027 roster additions including BC transfer Hanna Davis and Florida goalie Maya Soskin (July 3), and Maryland incoming freshman Cayden Reese was named USA Lacrosse Girls High School Player of the Year (July 7). 🆕 July 1-7 coaching hires: UMass Lowell named Adrian Torok-Orban head coach (Fairfield associate head coach, former Robert Morris associate HC); Hartford's Ryan Martin stepped down after 12 years/10 seasons (51-57, back-to-back 10+ win seasons in 2025-26); Clarkson hired Christian Diaz as women's head coach (former Wisconsin-Stevens Point inaugural HC); Furman re-hired founding coach Rachel Shuck Whitten from Coastal Carolina (118-91 career record, 2024 ASUN Coach of the Year). 🆕 July 1: Service academy and NESCAC pre-read commitment window opened — Inside Lacrosse tracked the latest cohort of pre-reads to Army, Navy, and Air Force plus Ivy/NESCAC programs (via InsideLacrosse.com). Understanding the recruiting timeline is critical for any player aiming to play college lacrosse. NCAA rules vary by division, but the process generally begins in sophomore year and intensifies through junior year. 2026 Transfer Portal — CLOSED June 8: The DI men's and women's transfer portal is now shut for 2026-27; all commitments finalized. 🆕 June 17: Florida attacker Gianna Monaco announced she will take a year off from college lacrosse and transfer to Maryland for the 2027-28 season (via USA Lacrosse). Portal Notable Moves: Virginia landed Colgate defender Aidan Murnane and Bryant attackman Johnny Hackett; Syracuse added Lafayette midfielder Cooper Pasko and Vermont midfielder Tristan Whitam (June 23, 4th portal pickup of cycle, via syracuse.com); Maryland picked up Vermont M/SSDM Colin Bullock (Grad) plus transfer commits Garrett Haas and Ryan Demato; Michigan added Colgate FO Johnny Hartzell (Grad); Delaware landed Iona's Cooper Metz (So., 53 GB, 22 CT). Women's moves: Kate Galica to UNC; Sarah Waits (Yale → Georgetown); Anna Hackett (Elon → Florida State); Olivia Ritter (JMU D, So.) entered portal. Coaching Changes — CONFIRMED: Kevin Cassese named Virginia head coach (May 26), replacing Lars Tiffany (fired May 18 after 10 years, 2 titles 2019 & 2021, 2026 ACC title). Cassese was UVA offensive coordinator and former Lehigh HC (2007-2016). June 4: Cassese hires Vermont HC Chris Feifs as associate head coach/defensive coordinator — Feifs was Vermont's all-time winningest coach and 2024 America East Coach of the Year. ✅ June 8: Vermont hires Drew Kelleher '09 as head coach — former UMass Lowell assistant and Siena OC; replaces Feifs. 🆕 June 3: Dartmouth DC Matt Whitcher steps down; assistant Ajax Zappitello promoted to defensive coordinator by head coach Sean Kirwan. DI Women's confirmed hires: Haley Hicklen (East Carolina, replaces Brittany Dipper); Rob Grella (Manhattan, replaces Jenna Dingler); Tianna Wallpher (Charlotte, replaces Sarah Staggard; former Ohio State DC and U.S. National Team player); Lauren Gunning (Old Dominion, replaces Theresa Walton, June 8); Sam Apuzzo (USC, replaces Lindsey Munday, June 17) — Tewaaraton winner and Boston College assistant; Faith Flanagan (Longwood, June 16); Kristen Nicholson (Lafayette, June 26 — replaces Katie McConnell who resigned May 18 after 7 seasons). 🆕 June 5: Amy Slade out at UMBC women's — Retrievers women's program joins men's program with coaching vacancy. DI Men's openings: UMBC (Ryan Moran out) — Fairfield filled June 9 with John Odierna, Vermont filled June 8 with Drew Kelleher. DI Women's openings: Butler, Central Michigan, Furman, UMBC. ✅ June 26: Lafayette filled by Kristen Nicholson from Kutztown — see below. 🆕 DII Coaching: Six-time national champion Dan Sheehan retires from Le Moyne men's lacrosse after 29 years (June 10); moves to advancement/innovation leadership role at Le Moyne. 🆕 June 23 — LEGEND RETIRES: Jim Berkman, the all-time winningest coach in college lacrosse history, announced his retirement from Salisbury University men's lacrosse after 38 years. Berkman exits with 13 NCAA Division III national championships (most by any coach in any division), the highest winning percentage in college lacrosse history (.902), and 678 career wins — the most by any coach across all three divisions. Highlights: only men's lacrosse coach to reach both the 500- and 600-win plateaus, led Salisbury to 7 perfect seasons, reached the final four 28 times, won 28 conference championships, and posted a 105-game conference winning streak (1995-2009). Four-time DIII National Coach of the Year; National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2013), IMLCA Hall of Fame (2023). Program produced 310 All-Americans, 13 National Players of the Year, 15 pro draft picks (most by any DIII program). Longtime assistant Justin Axel — who served as an assistant 2002-07, won 81 games as head coach at Eastern Connecticut State (2007-14), and returned to Salisbury as Berkman's top assistant in 2014 — named interim head coach. Axel was part of 7 of Salisbury's 13 national titles across his two stints. (via USA Lacrosse, Salisbury Athletics, 47 ABC WMDT). 🆕 Pro News: June 3: PLL trade — Ryan Croddick (Princeton, Most Outstanding Player of Final Four) traded from Outlaws to Redwoods for a 2027 1st-round pick. June 7-9: U.S. Men's National Team training camp in Charlotte — Princeton's Chad Palumbo (4G in NCAA final, Player of the Game) making senior team debut; camp is final prep before Pan-American Championship in Kingston, Jamaica (August 2026). 🆕 June 11: Madison Taylor (Northwestern) named Honda Sport Award winner for lacrosse. 🆕 June 12: Bowen Holden named Williams College women's head coach. 🆕 June 15: Maryland men's offensive coordinator Michael Phipps steps down; John Tillman begins staff makeover after Terps missed NCAA tournament for first time in decades. 🆕 June 15: Penn State women's lacrosse hires former Stanford star Mallory Hasselbeck to coaching staff. 🆕 June 16: Five Maryland women's lacrosse players named CSC Academic All-District; six UMBC men's lacrosse players named CSC Men's At-Large Academic All-District. 🆕 June 17: Boston College's Marissa White & Shea Baker named CSC Academic All-District; Delaware women's lacrosse adds Allie Hanlon to roster. 🆕 June 18: Oregon women's lacrosse head coach Jess Drummond adds McLaughlin to coaching staff. 🆕 June 19: Three Penn State men’s lacrosse transfers commit to new homes — Nick Cugini to Saint Joseph’s, Max Kuchinski to Hofstra, and Will Chakrian to Bucknell (via Daily Collegian). 🆕 June 16: Kalamazoo College names Tony Quinn head men’s lacrosse coach, bringing nearly two decades of high school and collegiate experience. 🆕 June 15: John Carroll University (DIII) names Jason Tarnow fourth head men’s lacrosse coach in program history. 🆕 June 10: Delaware Valley University hires Jim DiBattista to lead the Aggies men’s lacrosse program. 🆕 June 22: Lars Tiffany files $1.4M lawsuit against UVA alleging breach of contract — former Cavaliers coach (10 years, 2019 & 2021 national titles, 2026 ACC championship) filed suit Monday in Albemarle County Circuit Court after UVA announced "leadership change" on May 18. Tiffany claims he signed a 3-year extension offer on April 2, 2026, but UVA's athletic department said it had no extension on file. He is seeking a jury trial. (via Cville Right Now / Augusta Free Press). 🆕 June 22: Lehigh women's lacrosse head coach Lauren Lazo adds Delany McDaniel to coaching staff (via Lehigh Sports). 🆕 June 22: Florida State women's lacrosse announces four summer transfer additions for 2026-27 (via Seminoles.com). 🆕 June 25: Virginia hires alums Mikey Herring and Matthew Nunes as assistant coaches (announced Thursday by head coach Kevin Cassese). Herring will serve as UVA's offensive coordinator; he played at UVA from 2015-19 and was part of the program's 2019 NCAA championship. Herring spent the last three seasons as Dartmouth's assistant coach/OC and recruiting coordinator. Before Dartmouth, he was OC at UMBC (2023 — 11.85 goals per game, best in nearly a decade) and VMI (2020-22, where VMI recorded its most goals in 22 years). Nunes will assist Chris Feifs with the defense and oversee the Cavalier goaltenders; he was a four-year starter in net at UVA from 2022-25, finishing No. 2 on the program's all-time saves list with 657 saves, and the 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year. Nunes spent 2025-26 as an assistant at Fairfield. Both hires are alums returning to the program (via virginiasports.com / Patrick Boling, Augustafreepress.com). 🆕 June 26: Kristen Nicholson named head women's lacrosse coach at Lafayette College (announced Thursday by Lafayette; release covered by Kutztown University). Nicholson leaves Kutztown after four seasons as head coach, where she transformed the program into a PSAC East contender — the Golden Bears set a school record for wins in 2025 under her leadership and were ranked No. 20 in the IWLCA preseason poll for 2026. She replaces Katie McConnell, who stepped down May 18 after seven seasons at Lafayette. Nicholson will be tasked with rebuilding a Leopards program that has struggled in the Patriot League. (via kubears.com / Lafayette College Athletics). 🆕 June 2: The 2026 NCAA lacrosse championship games drew a combined 1.25 million viewers on ESPN networks — the men's final averaged 778,000 viewers (most-watched men's final in 19 years, up 37% from 2025), and the women's final averaged 470,000 viewers (most-watched women's final on record, up 83% from 2025). Overall men's tournament viewership was up 31%, the most watched in 13 years; women's tournament viewership was up 72% (via USA Lacrosse/ESPN). 🆕 June 25: USA Lacrosse published an extended interview with retiring Salisbury legend Jim Berkman, who cited family time (grandchildren in Georgia and Illinois) and recent health issues, including a blood clot, as key reasons for stepping down after 38 seasons and 13 national titles. He said he worked with Salisbury's administration to time the announcement so the program could expedite its search (via USA Lacrosse). 🆕 June 25: A USA Lacrosse feature traced Princeton's national-title breakthrough to a culture of joyfulness and selflessness on offense, led by Chad Palumbo (tied for the tournament lead with 12 goals and 19 points) and senior leadership from captain Cooper Kistler (via USA Lacrosse).
| Team / Detail | Record / Info | Status / Seed |
|---|---|---|
| D1 Contact Starts | Sept 1 (junior year) | Calls, texts, emails permitted |
| D1 Official Visits | Sept 1 (junior year) | Campus visits allowed |
| D2 Contact Starts | Anytime | More flexible than D1 |
| D2 Official Visits | June 15 (after sophomore) | Earlier than D1 |
| D3 Contact | Anytime | No athletic scholarships |
| NLI Signing | November (senior year) | Class of 2027: Nov 11, 2026 |
When can college coaches contact me?
Division I coaches can contact you starting September 1 after your junior year. Before that, they can evaluate you at camps and showcases but cannot initiate contact. Division II and III coaches have more flexibility.
Do Division III schools offer athletic scholarships?
No. DIII schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they often provide generous academic and need-based aid. Many DIII programs are highly competitive and produce pro players.
What is the transfer portal?
The NCAA transfer portal is a database where student-athletes can declare their intent to transfer schools. The 2026 DI transfer portal closed June 8, 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year.
Updated: June 28, 2026
While Division I gets the spotlight, DII and DIII lacrosse are thriving. Division II features competitive scholarship programs, while Division III emphasizes academics and has produced champions like Tufts and Salisbury. 🏆 DIII MEN'S CHAMPION: TUFTS — Jumbos win 3rd straight title (6th in program history), defeating RIT 17-11; led 11-6 at halftime. 🏆 DII MEN'S CHAMPION: TAMPA — Spartans win in overtime 12-11 over Adelphi; Tommy Ortega game-tying goal late in 4th + OT winner; avenges 2025 OT final loss. 🏆 DIII WOMEN'S CHAMPION: MIDDLEBURY — Panthers win 5th consecutive title, beating Wesleyan (CT) 8-6; all-NESCAC final. DII Women's CHAMPION: FLORIDA SOUTHERN — Mocs win 9-7 over Maryville (MO) for 2nd title (first since 2016). DIII Women's semifinals May 22: Middlebury 10, Tufts 9 (OT) — Panthers survive dramatic rally! Tufts tied it with 3 seconds left, but Caroline Adams scored GWG in OT on woman-up. Wesleyan (CT) 5, Salisbury 4 — Cardinals advance to first-ever championship. DIII men's semifinal: Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7 — Jumbos dominant. DII semifinals: Adelphi 19, Molloy 4; Tampa 13, Anderson (SC) 7. 🆕 June 10: Le Moyne legend Dan Sheehan retires after 29 years and six NCAA Division II championships; moves into advancement/innovation leadership role at the college. 📺 June 2: 2026 NCAA championship broadcasts on ESPN networks drew a combined 1.25 million viewers, with both the men's and women's finals setting multi-year records.
Make your picks and track tournament brackets live with our interactive bracket predictor tool.
Bracket + PicksUpdated: July 12, 2026
All data sourced from official NCAA publications, NCAA.com brackets and stats (through May 25, 2026), USILA polls, IWLCA coaches poll, USA Lacrosse, and verified lacrosse media outlets. Updated daily through the off-season for coaching changes, recruiting, and transfer portal news.
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