Princeton closed out its season with a 16–9 victory over Notre Dame to capture the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Tigers, seeded No. 1, secured their seventh national title and their first since 2001.
Princeton overcame an early 3–0 deficit in the opening minutes before unleashing an 11‑goal run that turned the game decisively in their favor. By halftime, the Tigers led 11–3 and maintained control the rest of the way.
Notre Dame, the No. 2 seed, narrowed the gap twice in the second half but could not overcome Princeton’s dominant second quarter or its balanced scoring depth.
Key Performances
Princeton’s offense was led by Chad Palumbo with four goals, while Colin Burns added three. Tucker Wade and Jake Vana each scored twice, and goalie Ryan Croddick anchored the defense with 13 saves. These performances aligned with the official box score totals.
Notre Dame’s attack was paced by Josh Yago and Will Angrick, who each contributed multiple points, but the Irish were unable to match Princeton’s sustained scoring runs.
Tournament Path
Princeton advanced to the championship after wins over Marist, Penn State, and Duke, continuing a postseason run in which they were rarely threatened. Notre Dame reached the final with victories over Jacksonville, Johns Hopkins, and Syracuse.
The title game marked the second straight year that the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds met for the national championship.
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Sources
- NCAA
- Princeton University
- Yahoo Sports