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🏆 2026 Season Complete — 2027 Way-Early Rankings Live (Men’s & Women’s) — NCAA Unifies Women’s Championships for 2027 & 2028

College Lacrosse 2026: Your Complete Guide

Full 2026 NCAA lacrosse season recap, champions crowned, way-early 2027 rankings (men's & women's), transfer portal tracking, coaching changes, and recruiting news for the 2027 season.

By Dan·Founder, People's Lacrosse
Train Like a College Player

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What Is College Lacrosse?

Updated: June 20, 2026

NCAA college lacrosse is the highest level of amateur lacrosse in the US, 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.
  • •Division II features competitive scholarship programs with slightly fewer schools.
  • •Division III emphasizes academics — no athletic scholarships, but highly competitive lacrosse (e.g., Tufts, Salisbury).
  • •Whether you're a recruit, fan, or parent, understanding the college landscape helps you appreciate the sport's depth and find your path forward.

NCAA Lacrosse by Division

Team / DetailRecord / InfoStatus / Seed
Men's DI Teams78Full scholarships
Men's DII Teams78Partial scholarships
Men's DIII Teams248No scholarships
Women's DI Teams117Full scholarships
Championship Format18-team (M) / 29-team (W)Single elimination
2026 Men's FinalMay 25, Charlottesville, VAScott Stadium
2026 Women's ChampionNorthwestern (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. Way-early 2027 rankings: Notre Dame #1, North Carolina #2, Princeton #3, Duke #4, Penn State #5. Full final standings and 2027 preseason outlook below.

Men's DI Top 15 - Tournament Seeding

Team / DetailRecord / InfoStatus / Seed
1. Princeton17-2🏆 NATIONAL CHAMPION (Beat Duke 14-7 SF; Beat ND 16-9 Final)
2. Notre Dame13-3Runner-up (Beat Syracuse 15-7 SF; Lost to Princeton 9-16 Final)
3. North Carolina10-4Eliminated by Syracuse 11-13 QF
4. Richmond14-2Eliminated by Duke 12-14 1st Rd
5. Virginia7-6Eliminated by Georgetown 10-14 1st Rd
6. Syracuse13-6Eliminated by Notre Dame 7-15 SF
7. Cornell8-4Eliminated by Hopkins 8-9 (OT)
8. Penn State10-7Eliminated by Princeton 10-14 QF
9. Georgetown11-6Eliminated by Duke 6-16 QF
10. Johns Hopkins10-7Eliminated by ND 9-15 QF
11. Duke11-5Eliminated by Princeton 7-14 SF
12. Yale13-5Eliminated by Syracuse 15-16
13. Harvard9-2Did not advance
14. Army14-4Lost to Penn State 6-10
15. Maryland6-4Did not qualify

Way-Early 2027 Men's DI Rankings (Top 25)

  • 1. Notre Dame — 13-3 in 2026; runner-up returns Shawn Lyght (Tewaaraton winner) on defense; only 20% of starts lost
  • 2. North Carolina — 13-5 in 2026; returns Owen Duffy (Tewaaraton finalist) & Dominic Pietramala (NCAA single-game goal record); only 9% of scoring departing
  • 3. Princeton — 17-2 in 2026; 🏆 national champions return Nate Kabiri (39G/48A), Colin Burns (37G/19A), Tucker Wade (39G); must replace goalie Croddick & FO McMeekin
  • 4. Duke — 11-5 in 2026; all six offensive starters return (Johnston 43G, Sloat 36G, Colsey 32G); only 15.3% of scoring departing
  • 5. Penn State — 10-6 in 2026; returns 7 of 8 20-point scorers incl. Lehman, Iannantuono (Big Ten FOY), Aquino; Big Ten favorites
  • 6. Virginia — 7-6 in 2026; new HC Kevin Cassese era begins; returns Brendan Millon & key pieces
  • 7. Georgetown — 11-6 in 2026; returns Liam Connor (53A) on offense
  • 8. Johns Hopkins — 10-7 in 2026; consistent tournament contender
  • 9. Syracuse — 13-6 in 2026; Joey Spallina among plaintiffs suing NCAA for extra eligibility; roster uncertain pending lawsuit; federal court ruled HS class of 2022 eligible for 5th season (Aug 3) — NCAA expected to appeal
  • 10. Maryland — 6-4 in 2026; John Tillman rebuilding staff after OC Phipps stepped down
  • 11-15: Richmond, Cornell, Army, Yale, Harvard
  • 16-20: Loyola, Denver, Penn, Ohio State, Rutgers
  • 21-25: Providence, Vermont, Towson, Jacksonville, Stony Brook
  • Source: USA Lacrosse Magazine — Patrick Stevens' way-early 2027 rankings (July 27-31, 2026)

🏆 2026 Women's DI Champion: Northwestern — 9th national title. Way-early 2027 rankings: North Carolina #1, Northwestern #2, Maryland #3, Stony Brook #4, Navy #5. Full final standings and 2027 preseason outlook below.

Women's DI Top 15 - Tournament Seeding

Team / DetailRecord / InfoStatus / Seed
1. Northwestern19-3#1 Seed → 🏆 NATIONAL CHAMPION (Beat JHU 16-11 SF; Beat UNC 14-11 Final)
2. North Carolina19-2#2 Seed → Runner-up (Beat Maryland 16-6 SF; Lost to NU 11-14 Final)
3. Maryland18-4#3 Seed (Eliminated by UNC 6-16 SF)
4. Johns Hopkins17-5#4 Seed (Eliminated by NU 11-16 SF)
5. Stony Brook19-3#5 Seed (Eliminated by JHU 12-13)
6. Navy18-2#6 Seed (Eliminated by Maryland 10-14)
7. Michigan12-7#7 Seed (Eliminated)
8. Colorado16-4#8 Seed (Eliminated by NU 12-13 2OT)
9. Florida15-3Eliminated (1st Round)
10. Stanford15-5Eliminated by UNC 11-14
11. Syracuse13-5Lost to Navy OT 10-11
12. Denver15-3Lost to Colorado 9-11
13. Boston College11-6Lost to Stony Brook 9-10
14. Rutgers11-7Beat Princeton, lost to Maryland
15. Clemson14-5Lost to UNC 6-17

Way-Early 2027 Women's DI Rankings (Top 25)

  • 1. North Carolina — 19-2 in 2026; returns Chloe Humphrey (109G/50A), Addison Pattillo (63G), Eliza Osburn (32G), Kate Levy; adds Virginia transfer Kate Galica (144 draw controls); top-ranked recruiting class incl. Cece Powell (#3 recruit), Sophia Buffardi (#4); goalie battle between Betty Nelson and Lexi Zenk
  • 2. Northwestern — 19-3 in 2026; 🏆 defending champs must replace Madison Taylor (97G/42A), Maddie Epke, Jenika Cuocco; returns Aditi Foster (54G), Taylor LaPointe (36G); adds transfers Paige Selhorn (47G/43A from Cincinnati), Caleigh Cummisky (49G from Bucknell); Madison Smith (129 draw controls) anchors defense
  • 3. Maryland — 18-4 in 2026; loses five leading scorers and three starting defenders; adds Gianna Monaco (73G at Florida in 2025), #1 recruit Cayden Reese, Kira Balis (287 draw controls from Clemson); goalie JJ Suriano (51% SV) returns
  • 4. Stony Brook — 19-3 in 2026; returns top 5 scorers incl. Isabella Caporuscio (68G/19A), Mirabella Altebrando (21G/59A), Julia Fusco (54G); adds Sofia Chepenik (51G from USF), Josie Lakosky (105G at Northern Michigan); goalie Natalia Altebrando (42.1% SV, 7.14 GAA) back
  • 5. Navy — 20-2 in 2026; returns Tewaaraton finalist Alyssa Chung (84G/34A/118 pts); brings back 63% of goal scoring; goalie Felicia Giglio (8.84 GAA) returns; must replace draw leader Maura Murphy (177 draws)
  • 6. Syracuse — 14-6 in 2026; defense held opponents to single digits in 16 of 20 games; ACC Goalkeeper of Year Daniella Guyette returns; adds Maya Soskin (Florida transfer); Molly Guzik (44G) leads offense
  • 7. Boston College — 10-8 in 2026; returns Molly Driscoll (32G/23A), Giulia Colarusso (40G), Marisa White (40G), Kylee Colbert (38G); adds Natalie Shurtleff (43G from Clemson), Caroline Trinkaus (31G from Syracuse); freshman goalie Maeve Magarity could start
  • 8. Michigan — 13-7 in 2026; returns Emma Bradbury (51G/178 draw controls), goalie Elizabeth Johnson (48% SV); strong freshman class highlighted by Julie Shaughnessy
  • 9. Johns Hopkins — 17-5 in 2026; first-ever Final Four; returns Lacey Downey (58G/47A/51 CT), Taylor Hoss (47G/60A), Paige Willard (42G); must replace Ava Angello (81G) and 3 defensive starters
  • 10. Florida — 15-4 in 2026; returns Frannie Hahn (33G/38A), Clark Hamilton (57G), Gabbi Koury (30G); six five-star freshmen incoming; goalie position open after two transfers
  • 11. Clemson — 15-6 in 2026; returns Alexa Spallina (39G/72A, led freshmen nationally in PPG), Brooke Goldstein (43G), Emma Penczek (33G), Aubrie Eisfeld (36G); Teagan Scott (66 CT) anchors defense
  • 12. Notre Dame — 12-6 in 2026; returns Madison Rassas (54G), Charley Bacigalupo (28G/22A), Grace Maroney (32G); Ceci Patterson (41.7% SV) returns in net; 7th nationally in scoring defense (7.89 GAA)
  • 13. Stanford — 17-5 in 2026; first-ever NCAA quarterfinals; returns Aliya Poiisky (51G/27A), Ava Aceri (48G), Martha Oakey (28G/32A); goalie battle between Ella Morton and freshman Ruby Cacioppo
  • 14. Colorado — 16-4 in 2026; first NCAA quarterfinals; returns Elana Oh (6.89 GAA, #2 scoring defense), Rachel Kennedy (31G), Teagan Ryan (41G); must replace Maddie Shoup (47G/24A) and Jess Peluso (42 CT)
  • 15. Penn State — 12-7 in 2026; Kayla Treanor's first year, 5-win improvement; returns Delaney Radin (27G/57A), Kelly MacKinney (45G/32A), Rocquette Allen (45G); goalie Sydney Manning (49.4% SV) back
  • 16. Yale — 13-5 in 2026; returns Kate Gould (36G/28A/77 DC), Ashley Kiernan (32G/21A), Kelly Holmes (26G); goalie Niamh Pfaff returns; must replace defender Emmy Pascal (35 CT)
  • 17. Denver — 16-4 in 2026; returns Olivia Ripple (73G), Caroline Keil (61G), Eva Thomsen-Marr (44G); goalie Lexi Gwaku (52.2% SV, 7.22 GAA) back; must replace 3 defensive starters
  • 18. James Madison — 14-7 in 2026; returns Payton Root (31G/60A), Olivia Matthews (39G), Kaitlyn Carney (39G); Harlowe Healey (163 draw controls) back; must replace Jordan Peterson (44G) and Olivia Rongo (59 CT)
  • 19. Rutgers — 11-9 in 2026; returns Caroline Ling (63G/34A), Kate Theofield (45G), Hilary Elsner (36G); Katie Buck (166 draws, 28 CT) returns; loses only Lilly Dixon (13G/50A)
  • 20. Loyola — 12-8 in 2026; returns Morgan Quade (29G/41A), Mim Suares-Jury (35G/22A), Lauren Perfetto (24G/29A); goalie Kennedy Buntrock back; adds Ali Rolston (Canadian U20 silver medalist)
  • 21. Duke — 9-8 in 2026; young team returns Eva Pronti (19G/51A), Ava Biancardi (51G), Avery Doran (41G), Bella Goodwin (33G); adds transfers Olivia Rose (Stanford, 31 CT), Peep Williams (Stanford), Ava Plata (UConn)
  • 22. Army — 15-5 in 2026; best season in program history, first NCAA tournament win; must replace Brigid Duffy and Allison Reilly (first All-Americans in program history); Ryan Remaly (25G) returns
  • 23. Princeton — 11-7 in 2026; rebuild after losing 8 senior starters; returns Meg Morrisroe (53G); goalie battle between Liz Gonnella and Jackie Feldman; Chris Sailer era transition complete
  • 24. Virginia — 8-9 in 2026; missed NCAA tournament for first time since 1995; loses Kate Galica (420 career draw controls, to UNC); Sonia and Michael LaMonica rebuilding
  • 25. Georgetown — 12-6 in 2026; Big East championship appearance; returns All-Big East defender Amanda Brille, attacker Anne McGovern (36G/27A); adds Sarah Waits (Yale transfer)
  • Source: USA Lacrosse Magazine — Beth Ann Mayer & Emilia Reay's way-early 2027 women's rankings (August 3-7, 2026)

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.

  • •Men's Tewaaraton: Shawn Lyght (Notre Dame) — first defenseman to ever win the award.
  • •Women's Tewaaraton: Madison Taylor (Northwestern) — dominant season led to national title.
  • •Honda Sport Award (June 11): Madison Taylor named national lacrosse winner.
  • •Full leaderboards archived below in collapsible sections.

Men's DI - Attack (Points Per Game)

  • 1. Timothy Shannehan (Boston U.) - 76 pts, 34 G, 42 A, 5.43 PPG
  • 2. Mikey Weisshaar (Towson) - 76 pts, 47 G, 29 A, 5.07 PPG
  • 3. Jack Taylor (Jacksonville) - 86 pts, 41 G, 45 A, 5.06 PPG

Men's DI - Midfield (Points Per Game)

  • 1. Liam Connor (Georgetown) - 75 pts, 22 G, 53 A, 5.00 PPG
  • 2. Rhett Chambers (Providence) - 71 pts, 35 G, 36 A, 4.18 PPG
  • 3. Evan Plunkett (Army) - 64 pts, 24 G, 40 A, 3.76 PPG

Men's DI - Defense (Caused Turnovers Per Game)

  • 1. Julian Radossich (Fairfield) - 39 CT, 2.79 CT/G
  • 2. Nikko DiPonio (Utah) - 37 CT, 2.64 CT/G
  • 3. Colman Craft (Hobart) - 28 CT, 2.55 CT/G

Men's DI - LSM (Caused Turnovers Per Game)

  • 1. Jake Melchionni (Villanova) - 32 CT, 2.29 CT/G
  • 2. Owen Tasse (St. Bonaventure) - 30 CT, 2.14 CT/G
  • 3. Michael Rincon (Holy Cross) - 27 CT, 1.93 CT/G

Men's DI - SSDM (Caused Turnovers Per Game)

  • 1. Reece DiCicco (Johns Hopkins) - 22 CT, 1.57 CT/G
  • 2. (Data limited - full SSDM stats not publicly available)
  • 3. (Data limited - full SSDM stats not publicly available)

Men's DI - Faceoff (Ground Balls Per Game)

  • 1. Brady Wambach (North Carolina) - 177 GB, 10.41 GB/G (broke UNC single-season FO wins record)
  • 2. Luca Accardo (High Point) - 139 GB, 9.93 GB/G
  • 3. Walter Zhao (Vermont) - 117 GB, 9.00 GB/G

Men's DI - Goalie (Save % + GAA)

  • 1. Sean Byrne (Army) - .617 SV%, 216 saves, 7.73 GAA
  • 2. Grayson Manning (Denver) - .610 SV%, 188 saves, 7.84 GAA
  • 3. Thomas Ricciardelli (Notre Dame) - .586 SV%, 146 saves, 8.32 GAA (17 saves vs Jacksonville in 1st round)
WOMEN'S

Women's DI - Attack (Points Per Game)

  • 1. Chloe Humphrey (North Carolina) - 133 pts, 92 G, 41 A, 7.82 PPG
  • 2. Allison Reilly (Army) - 126 pts, 50 G, 76 A, 6.63 PPG
  • 3. Madison Taylor (Northwestern) - 111 pts, 80 G, 31 A, 6.17 PPG

Women's DI - Midfield (Points Per Game)

  • 1. Madison Taylor (Northwestern) - 111 pts, 80 G, 31 A, 6.17 PPG
  • 2. Sienna Hinchcliffe (Akron) - 101 pts, 74 G, 27 A, 5.94 PPG
  • 3. Brigid Duffy (Army) - 105 pts, 75 G, 30 A, 5.53 PPG

Women's DI - Defense (Caused Turnovers - Limited Data)

  • 1. (Defensive stats not publicly available for women's DI)
  • 2. Top defenders typically lead in ground balls and caused turnovers
  • 3. Check team-specific pages for defensive leaderboards

Women's DI - Goalie (Saves Per Game + Save %)

  • 1. JJ Suriano (Maryland) - 52% SV, 197 saves, 9.76 GAA - Breakout season after struggling in 2025
  • 2. Amelia Hughes (Princeton) - 51% SV, 180 saves, 10.54 GAA - Senior leader for Tigers defense
  • 3. Jenika Cuocco (Northwestern) - 52% SV, 161 saves, 9.01 GAA - Backbone of #1 Wildcats
  • 4. Elena Oh (Colorado) - 6.47 GAA (best in DI) - Sophomore sensation for Buffaloes
  • 5. Natalia Altebrando (Stony Brook) - 6.58 GAA - Elite shot-stopper for Seawolves

2026 Season Complete — Princeton (Men's DI), Northwestern (Women's DI), and Tufts (DIII) all won championships. Key results below.

Men's Championship — #1 Princeton 16, #2 Notre Dame 9

✅ Completed
May 25, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (ESPN)

🏆 PRINCETON WINS 7TH NATIONAL TITLE — First since 2001 (25 years). Princeton led 11-3 at halftime.

Recap

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). Tigers finish 17-2; Notre Dame finishes 13-3.

Women's Championship — #1 Northwestern 14, #2 North Carolina 11

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Martin Stadium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (ESPNU)

🏆 NORTHWESTERN WINS 9TH NATIONAL TITLE — First DI team to win on home field since 1986 (Maryland). NU avenges 2025 championship loss to UNC.

Recap

Gabriella McCollester career-high 4G; Madison Taylor GWG + 6A. Northwestern finishes 19-3; UNC finishes 19-2.

DIII Championship — Tufts 17, RIT 11

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA

🏆 TUFTS WINS 3RD STRAIGHT DIII TITLE (6th in program history). Tufts won 2024, 2025 & 2026 titles.

Recap

Jumbos led 11-6 at halftime; dominated from start.

DII Championship — Tampa 12, Adelphi 11 (OT)

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA

🏆 TAMPA WINS DII TITLE IN OT — Tampa's first title since 2022. Adelphi's three-peat bid falls short.

Recap

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.

DIII Women's Championship — Middlebury 8, Wesleyan (CT) 6

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Rochester, NY

🏆 MIDDLEBURY WINS 5TH STRAIGHT DIII WOMEN'S TITLE — All-NESCAC final. Wesleyan's first-ever championship appearance.

Recap

Panthers add to dynasty after surviving Tufts 10-9 (OT) in semifinal.

DII Women's Championship — Florida Southern 9, Maryville (MO) 7

✅ Completed
May 23, 2026Rochester, NY

🏆 FLORIDA SOUTHERN WINS DII WOMEN'S TITLE — Mocs win 2nd championship (first since 2016).

Recap

Defeated Maryville 9-7; led 9-2 before late rally. Florida Southern adds to their legacy after a dominant tournament run.

DIII Semifinal - Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7

✅ Completed
May 17, 2026Semifinal - Medford, MA

Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7 - Defending champions dominate, advance to face RIT in championship game May 24

DII Semifinal - Adelphi 19, Molloy 4

✅ Completed
May 17, 2026Semifinal

#1 Adelphi 19, #3 Molloy 4 - Panthers dominant. Adelphi aims for 3rd straight DII title.

Recap

Braden Donnellan 7 assists, Michael Durning 5G.

DII Semifinal - Tampa 13, Anderson (SC) 7

✅ Completed
May 17, 2026Semifinal

#1 Tampa 13, #7 Anderson (SC) 7 - Spartans advance. Rematch of 2025 title game vs Adelphi set for May 24.

Recap

Aaron Cho 4G/1A, Rex Kesselring hat trick.

DIII Semifinal - RIT 16, Bowdoin 12

✅ Completed
May 16, 2026Semifinal - Brunswick, ME

RIT 16, Bowdoin 12 - Tigers advance to DIII championship game; RIT beat Bowdoin for 2nd time this season

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.

Men's Championship — #1 Princeton 16, #2 Notre Dame 9

✅ Completed
May 25, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (ESPN)

🏆 PRINCETON WINS 7TH NATIONAL TITLE — First since 2001 (25 years). Princeton led 11-3 at halftime.

Recap

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). Tigers finish 17-2; Notre Dame finishes 13-3.

Women's Championship — #1 Northwestern 14, #2 North Carolina 11

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Martin Stadium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (ESPNU)

🏆 NORTHWESTERN WINS 9TH NATIONAL TITLE — First DI team to win on home field since 1986 (Maryland). NU avenges 2025 championship loss to UNC.

Recap

Gabriella McCollester career-high 4G; Madison Taylor GWG + 6A. Northwestern finishes 19-3; UNC finishes 19-2.

DIII Championship — Tufts 17, RIT 11

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA

🏆 TUFTS WINS 3RD STRAIGHT DIII TITLE (6th in program history). Tufts won 2024, 2025 & 2026 titles.

Recap

Jumbos led 11-6 at halftime; dominated from start.

DII Championship — Tampa 12, Adelphi 11 (OT)

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA

🏆 TAMPA WINS DII TITLE IN OT — Tampa's first title since 2022. Adelphi's three-peat bid falls short.

Recap

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.

Men's SF - #1 Princeton 14, Duke 7

✅ Completed
May 23, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (ESPN2)

Princeton 14, Duke 7 - Ryan Croddick made 20 saves (most in NCAA semifinal since 1995). Princeton advances to championship. Duke finishes 11-5.

Recap

Colin Burns 4G; Nate Kabiri 3G/2A; Jake Vana hat trick; Duke's starting midfield shot 0-for-18; Benn Johnston 3G for Duke.

Men's SF - #2 Notre Dame 15, Syracuse 7

✅ Completed
May 23, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (ESPN2)

Notre Dame 15, Syracuse 7 - Irish scored 5 man-up goals. ND advances to championship. Syracuse finishes 13-6.

Recap

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.

Women's SF - #1 Northwestern 16, #4 Johns Hopkins 11

✅ Completed
May 22, 2026 — (ESPNU)Martin Stadium, Evanston, IL

RESULT: Northwestern 16, Johns Hopkins 11 - ✅ PREDICTION CORRECT (predicted NU 14-11). NU ends JHU's first-ever Final Four run.

Recap

Maddie Epke career game (4G/2A); scored in final minute of 1st half for 10-3 lead; Madison Taylor continued dominant season.

Women's SF - #2 North Carolina 16, #3 Maryland 6

✅ Completed
May 22, 2026 — (ESPNU)Martin Stadium, Evanston, IL

RESULT: North Carolina 16, Maryland 6 - ✅ PREDICTION CORRECT (predicted UNC 13-10). Defending champs dominated on 13-3 run after 3-3 tie.

Recap

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.

DIII Semifinal - Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7

✅ Completed
May 17, 2026Medford, MA

Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7 - Defending champions dominate; Jumbos advance to face RIT in championship game May 24 at Scott Stadium

DII Semifinals - Sunday, May 17

✅ Completed
May 17, 2026Semifinals

#1 Adelphi 19, #3 Molloy 4 & #1 Tampa 13, #7 Anderson (SC) 7. Championship: Adelphi vs Tampa (rematch of 2025 final) May 24 at Scott Stadium.

Recap

Adelphi: Braden Donnellan 7 assists, Michael Durning 5G. Tampa: Aaron Cho 4G/1A, Rex Kesselring hat trick.

2026 tournament predictions are complete. Final accuracy: 6/8 (75%) for pre-game picks. Full prediction results archived below.

Men's Tournament Results

  • Game times subject to change — visit the official website for current schedules and broadcast info.
  • National Champion: Princeton - #1 seed rolled past Duke 14-7 (Croddick 20 saves; Burns 4G; Kabiri 3G/2A), then beat Notre Dame 16-9 in final (Palumbo 4G, Player of the Game; Burns hat trick; Croddick Most Outstanding Player, 13 saves, 59% SV) (✅ prediction correct)
  • Championship Result: Princeton 16, Notre Dame 9 (Mon May 25 (ESPN) — First No. 1 vs No. 2 title game since 1985; Princeton's 7th title (first since 2001); led 11-3 at halftime
  • Final Four Results: Princeton 14, Duke 7 (✅ predicted Princeton); Notre Dame 15, Syracuse 7 (✅ predicted ND over Syracuse)
  • Breakout Stars: Ryan Croddick (Princeton - Most Outstanding Player of Final Four, 33 saves across Final Four, 20 saves in SF, 13 in final), Chad Palumbo (Princeton - 4G in final, Player of the Game), Josh Yago (ND - 7 pts in QF, 7 pts in SF), Colin Burns (Princeton - 4G in SF, hat trick in final)
WOMEN'S

Women's Tournament Results

  • National Champion: Northwestern — 🏆 CONFIRMED — Wildcats beat UNC 14-11 for 9th title on home field; McCollester 4G (career-high), Taylor GWG + 6A; first team to win on home field since 1986 (✅ prediction correct)
  • Runner-up: North Carolina — Humphrey led UNC but fell short; UNC finishes 19-2 after 12 straight wins entering final
  • Championship Result: #1 Northwestern 14, #2 North Carolina 11 — McCollester 4G; Taylor GWG + 6A; NU avenges 2025 championship loss to UNC
  • Key Moment: Gabriella McCollester (freshman) career-high 4G + Madison Taylor game-sealing goal with 6 assists; NU defense held UNC to 11 goals after allowing 16 in semis
  • Eliminated: Maryland (6-16 vs UNC SF), Johns Hopkins (11-16 vs NU SF), Navy, Colorado, Stony Brook, Stanford

The 2026 NCAA tournament brackets are complete. Men's DI: Princeton · Women's DI: Northwestern. Full bracket details archived below.

Men's QF - #1 Princeton 14, #8 Penn State 10

✅ Completed
May 17, 2026Delaware Stadium, Newark, DE (ESPNU)

Princeton 14, Penn State 10 - Tigers outscored PSU 5-0 in final 14 min. Princeton advances to 12th Final Four.

Recap

Andrew McMeekin 19-of-27 FOs, 12 GBs; Tucker Wade 4G; Chad Palumbo 3G/2A. Penn State finishes 10-7.

Men's QF - Duke 16, Georgetown 6

✅ Completed
May 17, 2026Delaware Stadium, Newark, DE (ESPNU)

Duke 16, Georgetown 6 - Most lopsided QF since 2021; Duke reaches 15th Championship Weekend; first unseeded team since 2017. Hoya's 12th consecutive QF loss.

Recap

Max Sloat 4G/1A, Benn Johnston 3G; Georgetown went 32+ min without a goal.

Men's SF - #1 Princeton 14, Duke 7

✅ Completed
May 23, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (ESPN2)

Princeton 14, Duke 7 - Croddick 20 saves (most in semifinal since 1995). Princeton advances to championship. Duke finishes 11-5.

Recap

Burns 4G; Kabiri 3G/2A; Vana hat trick; Duke midfield 0-for-18.

Men's SF - #2 Notre Dame 15, Syracuse 7

✅ Completed
May 23, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (ESPN2)

Notre Dame 15, Syracuse 7 - 5 man-up goals; ND advances to championship. Syracuse finishes 13-6.

Recap

Yago 3G/4A; Ricciardelli 14 saves; Lyght held Spallina to 0G; 10 ND scorers; Syracuse scoreless for final 16:39.

Men's Championship — #1 Princeton 16, #2 Notre Dame 9

✅ Completed
May 25, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (ESPN)

🏆 PRINCETON WINS 7TH NATIONAL TITLE — First since 2001 (25 years). Princeton led 11-3 at halftime. Tigers finish 17-2.

Recap

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). Notre Dame finishes 13-3.

DIII Championship — Tufts 17, RIT 11

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA

🏆 TUFTS WINS 3RD STRAIGHT DIII TITLE (6th in program history). Tufts won 2024, 2025 & 2026 titles.

Recap

Jumbos led 11-6 at halftime; dominated from start.

DII Championship — Tampa 12, Adelphi 11 (OT)

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA

🏆 TAMPA WINS DII TITLE IN OT — Tampa's first title since 2022. Adelphi's three-peat bid falls short.

Recap

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.

Women's SF - #1 Northwestern 16, #4 Johns Hopkins 11

✅ Completed
May 22, 2026 — (ESPNU)Martin Stadium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Northwestern 16, Johns Hopkins 11 - NU ends JHU's first-ever Final Four run.

Recap

Maddie Epke career game (4G/2A); scored in final minute of 1st half for 10-3 lead; Madison Taylor continued dominant season.

Women's SF - #2 North Carolina 16, #3 Maryland 6

✅ Completed
May 22, 2026 — (ESPNU)Martin Stadium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

North Carolina 16, Maryland 6 - Defending champs on 13-3 run after 3-3 tie.

Recap

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.

Women's Championship — #1 Northwestern 14, #2 North Carolina 11

✅ Completed
May 24, 2026Martin Stadium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (ESPNU)

🏆 NORTHWESTERN WINS 9TH NATIONAL TITLE — First DI team to win on home field since 1986 (Maryland). NU avenges 2025 championship loss. Northwestern finishes 19-3; UNC finishes 19-2.

Recap

Gabriella McCollester career-high 4G; Madison Taylor GWG + 6A.

College Lacrosse Recruiting

Updated: September 6, 2026

Off-season recruiting, transfer portal, coaching carousel, and 2027 preseason rankings updates. Recent: top-ranked 2028 prospect Maddie Moran commits to Maryland; NCAA unifies women’s championships for 2027 & 2028; DI coaching openings nearly filled; Shannon Smith steps down at Hofstra.

  • •🆕 September 4: Top-ranked 2028 recruit Maddie Moran commits to Maryland — Maryvale (Md.) attacker and the No. 1 player in the 2028 class; second top-ranked Terps recruit with family program ties in three years (Cathy Reese recruiting momentum for 2027-28 classes).
  • •🆕 August 19: NCAA unifies women’s lacrosse championships for 2027 and 2028 — first time all three divisions (DI/DII/DIII) will hold finals at one site; 2027 at Towson University (Johnny Unitas Stadium), May 28-30; 2028 at Subaru Park (Philadelphia, Temple as host). DI semis Friday, DII & DIII titles Saturday, DI final Sunday.
  • •🆕 August 14: Shannon Smith steps down from Hofstra after 14 seasons — all-time wins leader for the Pride (112 wins); move announced Friday.
  • •🆕 August 14: Abby Thorne (24) named Coastal Carolina women's HC — youngest DI women's lacrosse head coach; was assistant at Coastal Carolina last season; Pitt grad, Australia World Championship player.
  • •🆕 August 13: NCAA women's lacrosse rules changes approved for 2026-27 — revised penalty structure aligned with foul severity, expanded video review (coaches only, 2-min limit, flopping now reviewable as flagrant), timing restrictions on review requests.
  • •🆕 August 12: VMI hires Mike Daly as men's HC — 3x NCAA DIII champion at Tufts, prev HC at Brown (2016-24), recent stops at Maryland and Stony Brook; replaces Taylor Mendoza (moved to Trinity College DIII).
  • •🆕 August 9: USA Lacrosse way-early 2027 Women's DI Rankings published (August 3-7) — North Carolina #1, Northwestern #2, Maryland #3, Stony Brook #4, Navy #5. Full top 25 by Beth Ann Mayer and Emilia Reay.
  • •🆕 August 9: Federal court rules HS class of 2022 athletes eligible for 5th season (August 3) — U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver granted preliminary injunction in Wisne et al v. NCAA; NCAA CLO Scott Bearby condemned; appeal expected.
  • •🆕 August 9: Syracuse lawsuit update — Spallina and Dwan no longer part of amended suit; Jacksonville's Aaron Toguri added as plaintiff; all named players have signed pro contracts (PLL/WLL).
  • •🆕 August 3: USA Lacrosse way-early 2027 Men's DI Rankings published (July 27-31) — Notre Dame #1, North Carolina #2, Princeton #3, Duke #4, Penn State #5. Full top 25 by Patrick Stevens.
  • •🆕 August 3: NCAA changes ball color & expands video review for men's lacrosse (July 28) — fluorescent green/yellow balls recommended for 2026-27, mandated for 2027-28; expanded coach challenge capabilities.
  • •🆕 August 3: UMBC hires Mike Faith as women's lacrosse head coach (July 27) — 300+ career wins, previously built F&M into DIII powerhouse (4 Final Fours); replaces Amy Slade (14 years).
  • •🆕 July 26: NCAA committees recommend simplified penalty structure for women's lacrosse (July 21) — proposed 2026-27 rule changes add clarity to illegal checks/contact, address flopping.
  • •🆕 July 26: USA Lacrosse "12 Transfers Who Could Shape the 2027 Women's Lacrosse Title Race" (July 17) — key women's portal moves tracked for 2027 season.
  • •🆕 July 26: Timothy Shannehan (Boston U. -> Michigan) transfers (July 16) — reunites with brother at Michigan; Shannehan led DI attack with 76 pts (5.43 PPG) in 2026.
  • •🆕 July 26: NCAA "5-in-5" rule now in effect (June 30) — limits roster movement to 5 players over 5 years; coaches adjusting to new legislation.
  • •🆕 July 22: USA Lacrosse "Top 11 Impact Transfers" published July 21 — Ohio State, Rutgers, and Maryland among programs that improved most through the portal.
  • •🆕 July 17: Casey Powell named Le Moyne men's head coach (July 16) — Syracuse legend gets first collegiate HC gig; replaces Dan Sheehan (retired, 29 years, 6 DII titles).
  • •🆕 July 13: UMBC hires James Purpura (Ohio State OC) to lead men's lacrosse, replacing Ryan Moran.
  • •Live period active: NCAA July dead period ended July 31, 2026 — live recruiting period now active as of August 1.
  • •2026 Transfer Portal — CLOSED June 8: All commitments finalized for 2026-27.
  • •Portal Notable Moves (Men's): Virginia landed Colgate defender Aidan Murnane and Bryant attackman Johnny Hackett; Syracuse added Lafayette midfielder Cooper Pasko and Vermont midfielder Tristan Whitam.
  • •Portal Notable Moves (Women's): Kate Galica to UNC; Sarah Waits (Yale → Georgetown); Anna Hackett (Elon → Florida State); Natalie Shurtleff (Clemson → Boston College).
  • •Coaching Changes — CONFIRMED: Kevin Cassese named Virginia HC (May 26), replacing Lars Tiffany (fired May 18 after 10 years, 2 titles 2019 & 2021, 2026 ACC title).
  • •DI Men’s openings filled: Virginia (Kevin Cassese, May 26); Fairfield (John Odierna, June 9); Vermont (Drew Kelleher, June 8); UMass Lowell (Adrian Torok-Orban, July 1); UMBC (James Purpura, July 13); Mercer (James Chakey, July 24); VMI (Mike Daly, August 12). All DI men’s openings filled.
  • •DI Women’s openings filled: USC (Sam Apuzzo, June 17); Manhattan (Rob Grella, May 13); Old Dominion (Lauren Gunning, June 8); Longwood (Faith Flanagan, June 15); Butler (Leah Rubino, July 2); Furman (Rachel Shuck Whitten, July 7); Lafayette (Kristen Nicholson, June 26); Charlotte (Tianna Wallpher); East Carolina (Haley Hicklen); UMBC (Mike Faith, July 27); Coastal Carolina (Abby Thorne, August 14). Remaining open: Central Michigan, Hofstra (Shannon Smith stepped down August 14).
  • •🆕 June 23 — LEGEND RETIRES: Jim Berkman retires from Salisbury after 38 years — 13 NCAA DIII titles, .902 winning %, 678 career wins. Justin Axel named interim HC.
  • •2027 Men's DI Championship: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA — May 29-31, 2027 (per NCAA.com).
  • •2027 Women’s Championships (All Divisions): Johnny Unitas Stadium, Towson University — May 28-30, 2027. First-ever joint DI/DII/DIII women’s championship weekend. 2028: Subaru Park, Philadelphia (per NCAA, August 19).
  • •2026 NCAA lacrosse championships drew combined 1.25M viewers on ESPN — men's final 778K (most in 19 years), women's final 470K (most on record).

Recruiting Timeline by Division

Team / DetailRecord / InfoStatus / Seed
D1 Contact StartsSept 1 (junior year)Calls, texts, emails permitted
D1 Official VisitsSept 1 (junior year)Campus visits allowed
D2 Contact StartsAnytimeMore flexible than D1
D2 Official VisitsJune 15 (after sophomore)Earlier than D1
D3 ContactAnytimeNo athletic scholarships
NLI SigningNovember (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.

Division II & III Lacrosse

Updated: August 23, 2026

DII and DIII lacrosse are thriving. DII features competitive scholarship programs, while DIII emphasizes academics and has produced champions like Tufts and Salisbury. 2027 way-early rankings coming this fall.

  • •🆕 August 19: NCAA announces first-ever joint women’s lacrosse championship weekend for 2027 — DI, DII, and DIII finals all at Towson University (Johnny Unitas Stadium), May 28-30, 2027. 2028 at Subaru Park, Philadelphia.
  • •🏆 DIII Men's Champion: Tufts — 3rd straight title (6th in program history), defeating RIT 17-11; led 11-6 at halftime.
  • •🏆 DII Men's Champion: Tampa — OT win 12-11 over Adelphi; Tommy Ortega game-tying goal + OT winner; avenges 2025 OT final loss.
  • •🏆 DIII Women's Champion: Middlebury — 5th consecutive title, beating Wesleyan (CT) 8-6; all-NESCAC final.
  • •🏆 DII Women's Champion: Florida Southern — 9-7 over Maryville (MO) for 2nd title (first since 2016).
  • •DIII Women's SF: Middlebury 10, Tufts 9 (OT) — Panthers survive dramatic rally; Caroline Adams GWG in OT. Wesleyan (CT) 5, Salisbury 4 — Cardinals advance to first-ever championship.
  • •DIII Men's SF: 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 6 DII championships. Replaced by Casey Powell (July 16). Mike Daly, 3x DIII champ at Tufts, moves to VMI (DI) as HC (August 12).
  • •📺 June 2: 2026 NCAA championship broadcasts drew combined 1.25M viewers on ESPN — both finals setting multi-year records.

DIII Men's Final Rankings (2026)

  • 1. Tufts — 🏆 3rd straight national title (6th overall), 22-1
  • 2. RIT — Runner-up, lost championship 11-17 to Tufts; 19-5
  • 3. Bowdoin — Semifinal loss to RIT; 19-2
  • 4. Wesleyan (CT) — Semifinal loss to Tufts (7-23); 16-4
  • 5. Salisbury — Lost QF to Tufts; 16-3 — Note: Berkman era ends June 23, 2026
  • 6. York (PA) — Lost to Tufts in QF, 14-6
  • 7. Babson — Lost to RIT 14-21 in QF
  • 8. Christopher Newport — Lost to Wesleyan in QF

DII Men's Final Rankings (2026)

  • 1. Tampa — 🏆 OT national title (12-11 vs Adelphi), avenging 2025 final loss; 22-1
  • 2. Adelphi — Runner-up, three-peat bid falls short in OT; 19-1
  • 3. Molloy — Semifinal loss to Adelphi (4-19); 14-3
  • 4. Anderson (SC) — Semifinal loss to Tampa (7-13); Cinderella run; 12-5
  • 5. Pace — Lost QF to Adelphi 5-12; 11-4
  • 6. Lewis — Lost QF to Tampa 9-12; 10-5
  • 7. Lenoir-Rhyne — Lost QF to Anderson 7-9; 11-4
  • 8. Saint Michael's — Lost QF to Molloy 7-12; 9-5

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Sources & Citations

Updated: August 23, 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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Last updated: September 6, 2026 · v3.6