Story perspectives

Princeton Claims Seventh NCAA Title, Beats Notre Dame 16-9

5/27/2026

Summary

Princeton Champions

Princeton beat Notre Dame 16-9 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville on May 25, 2026, winning its seventh NCAA title and first since 2001.
Princeton finished the season 17-2 overall (5-1 Ivy).
Captain Chad Palumbo scored four goals, earning Most Outstanding Player honors.
Goalie Ryan Croddick made 13 saves in the championship.
After a 3-0 start, Princeton scored 11 straight to lead 11-3 at halftime, the second-largest margin ever, extending its win streak to 12 games.

Summary

Princeton Resurgence

After Bill Tierney left for Denver, Princeton won only four games in 2012, worst season since the 1980s.
Princeton missed the NCAA tournament from 2011-2021 as lacrosse grew west.
Princeton returned in 2022, qualified each year and won the 2026 title.
Endowments of $36 billion at Princeton and $13 billion at Johns Hopkins fund lacrosse, while Hofstra has missed the NCAA tournament since 2011 and Loyola made one appearance in seven years.

History

Historical Context

In 1971, Cornell captured its first NCAA men’s lacrosse championship, ending Johns Hopkins’ six-year title run and signaling Ivy League emergence. Cornell’s coach Richie Moran guided the team to a 13-10 victory, while the university’s $1.2 billion endowment funded expanded facilities. Similarly, Princeton’s 2026 triumph, powered by a $36 billion endowment and Bill Tierney’s earlier departure to Denver, revived Ivy dominance after a decade-long drought. The resurgence underscores how substantial university resources and coaching shifts can reshape collegiate lacrosse power structures for future generations.

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Princeton Champions

Princeton beat Notre Dame 16-9 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville on May 25, 2026, winning its seventh NCAA title and first since 2001.
Princeton finished the season 17-2 overall (5-1 Ivy).
Captain Chad Palumbo scored four goals, earning Most Outstanding Player honors.
Goalie Ryan Croddick made 13 saves in the championship.
After a 3-0 start, Princeton scored 11 straight to lead 11-3 at halftime, the second-largest margin ever, extending its win streak to 12 games.

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