NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship: A Tradition of Excellence

The NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship is an annual tournament organized by the NCAA to determine the national champion of men's collegiate field lacrosse among its Division I members in the United States. Founded in 1971, the tournament replaced the USILA and Wingate Memorial Trophy national title awards, marking a new era in collegiate lacrosse. As of 2023, 52 NCAA tournaments have been played, save for 2020 when the tournament was not held.

A History of Champions

Since the tournament's inception, 12 teams have etched their names in lacrosse history by claiming the national title. These include powerhouses such as Johns Hopkins, Syracuse, Princeton, North Carolina, Virginia, Cornell, Duke, Maryland, Loyola University (Maryland), Denver, Yale, and Notre Dame. Syracuse stands out with a remarkable ten titles (though one was later vacated by the NCAA). In total, 41 teams have participated in the NCAA tournament, showcasing the breadth of talent across the nation.

Underdog Stories and Tournament Surprises

The NCAA tournament is known for its upsets and Cinderella stories. Only seven unseeded teams have defied the odds to reach the championship game: the 1988 Cornell Big Red, the 1991 Towson Tigers, the 2006 Massachusetts Minutemen, the 2010 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the 2011 and 2012 Maryland Terrapins, and the 2016 North Carolina Tar Heels. Furthermore, only ten unseeded teams have advanced to the tournament semi-finals, with North Carolina's 2016 run being the most recent.

Johns Hopkins' consistent presence in the tournament is noteworthy, having appeared in every tournament except for three instances (1971, 2013, 2021). The top seed has historically enjoyed success, winning the title 22 times, and there have been 13 undefeated National Champions, demonstrating the dominance some teams have achieved.

Evolution of the Tournament Format

The NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship has undergone several format changes since its inception. Originally featuring eight teams, the tournament field expanded over the years, reaching 10 teams in 1986, 12 in 1987, 16 in 2003, and 18 in 2014. In 2017, the field size decreased to 17. Since 2021, the size has varied almost annually: 16 in 2021, 18 in 2022 and 2025, and 17 in 2023 and 2024. The two semifinal games and the final have been played on the same weekend at the same stadium since 1986, creating a thrilling championship atmosphere.

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Geographical Reach and Coaching Legends

While the heartland of lacrosse extends from New England to North Carolina, the NCAA tournament has seen participation from teams across the country. Eight schools from outside the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region have competed in the tournament: Air Force, Butler, Denver, Marquette, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, and Utah.

The championship has been shaped by the vision and leadership of numerous coaches. 21 coaches have won Division I titles: Richie Moran, Glenn Thiel, Bud Beardmore, Bob Scott, Henry Ciccarone, Willie Scroggs, Jr., Roy Simmons, Jr., Dave Klarmann, Don Zimmerman, Bill Tierney, Dom Starsia, John Desko, Dave Pietramala, John Danowski, Charley Toomey, John Tillman, Joe Breschi, Andy Shay, Lars Tiffany, Kevin Corrigan and Connor Buczek.

Team Championship Titles

Below is a list of team championship titles, inclusive of those awarded prior to the formation of the NCAA Division I Championship. These include the ILA champions (1881-1898), the USIULL and ILA champions (1899-1905), the USILL champions (1906-1925), the USILA champions (1926-1935), and the Wingate Memorial Trophy (1936-1972) recipients. Of note several schools have claimed their Northern and Southern Division titles won during the USILL years as national championships (based on the results of 3 or 4 intra-division games), while others have not. Still others were acclaimed in their time as unofficial title winners based on being leading teams in the collegiate ranks in particular years. Furthermore, the USILL (1906-1925) was a closed membership organization. §The USILA did not name champions for the 1932-1935 seasons. Johns Hopkins (44), Navy (17), Maryland (13), St.

Each tournament has seeded the top 8 seeds. The top seed is shown with double underline, the teams seeded between No. 2 and No. 4 are shown with single underline, and the teams seeded between No. 5 and No. 8 are not marked.

Fan Experience and Championship Weekend

The NCAA Lacrosse Championships offer a comprehensive experience for fans, highlighted by the Championship Weekend.

Gillette Stadium and Parking Information

Gillette Stadium, with its approximately 14,500 parking spaces, provides ample parking for attendees. As a convenience to fans, the parking fee is included in all ticket prices, eliminating the need to worry about parking passes on championship weekend. There is plenty of parking for buses and RVs in the stadium parking lots.

Overnight RV Parking

Fans interested in traveling to the NCAA Men’s and Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championships in an RV can take advantage of the Gillette Stadium RV Tailgate program. The overnight RV parking lot is available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, May 23, 24, and 25, 2025. RVs may enter at 9:00 AM Friday morning and remain in the lot until after Monday’s Division I Men’s championship game.

Reservation Policies:

Arrival: Friday, May 23, 2025 after 9:00 AM
Departure: Monday, May 26, 2025 after the Division I men’s championship game.
Cost: $150 per night, paid in advance. $175 per night if paying the day of event
Refunds: There will be no refunds.
Payment: Credit cards will be processed immediately. Credit card payments only on game day.

The overnight RV parking lot is located close to Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium, allowing fans to walk to the stadium and enjoy the entertainment, shopping, and restaurants at Patriot Place.

Amenities:

Controlled environment (overnight security)
Septic service each morning (extra cost to the individual)

Restrictions:

There are no electrical or water hook-ups.
Any reserved spaces not filled one hour before the first game time may be released. RVs arriving later than one hour before the first game will be accommodated on a space available basis.
The RV lot is intended for tailgate only and cannot be used for any commercial endeavors.
Inappropriate behavior by the permit holder or their guests will not be tolerated, and rights of all weekend permit holders will be released.

Reunion Village and Fan Fest

The Reunion Village allows fans from different schools, lacrosse teams, and clubs to tailgate together, creating a sense of community. The NCAA Lacrosse Fan Fest is designed for fans of all ages, featuring giveaways, live music, interactive games, special appearances, autograph signings, and more. It is the NCAA’s goal to maximize the experience for all family members attending the Championships.

Schedule for NCAA Lacrosse Championships

Friday, May 23

Division I Women’s Semifinals - North Carolina vs. Florida: 3:00 PM
Division I Women’s Semifinals - Boston College vs. Northwestern: 5:30 PM*

Saturday, May 24

Division I Men’s Semifinals - Cornell vs. Penn State: 12:00 PM
Division I Men’s Semifinals - Maryland vs. Syracuse: 2:30 PM*

Sunday, May 25

Division I Women’s Championship - Matchup determined by Friday’s results: 12:00 PM
Division II Men’s Championship - Adelphi vs. Tampa: 4:00 PM*
Division III Men’s Championship - Tufts vs. TBD: 7:00 PM*

Monday, May 26

Division I Men’s Championship - Matchup determined by Saturday’s results: 1:00 PM*

*All times are subject to change.

Travel and Accommodation

Boston’s rich art, music and dance institutions, theater and cultural attractions, distinguished dining and nightlife venues, world-class shopping and championship sports teams attract millions of visitors each year. The city’s downtown neighborhoods offer endless unique experiences and, their proximity to other must-see sites all around New England make it one of the country’s most diverse and exciting locales. Boston Logan Airport is conveniently located to downtown Boston.

There is a wide variety of hotels throughout New England. Boston is located 25 miles from Gillette Stadium. Downtown Boston and Providence are both located 25 miles from Gillette Stadium. Fans can travel by car or via cab/Uber to Gillette Stadium. To speak with a Visitor Services Representative from the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau call toll free 1-888-SEE-BOSTON (1-888-733-2678).

Accessibility

Disabled seating is available on all levels and at all price points in the stadium.

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