Cornell won its first men’s lacrosse national championship in 1971 when the Big Red defeated Maryland 12-6. Since that first NCAA DI men’s lacrosse state championship, 11 teams have won national titles.
Let’s take a look at eight teams that have won at least two national championships.
Men’s College Lacrosse History: Programs With Most National Championships
1. Syracuse – 10
Championships: 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009
Syracuse has dominated men’s college lacrosse for years. The program won its first title in 1983 and then dominated for three straight years from 1988-1990. Twin brothers Paul and Gary Gate played for the Orange, setting numerous records and glorifying passing and goals from the back. Syracuse won the 1990 championship and was later vacated due to NCAA violations. While the last championship was in 2009, the Orange was the national runner-up to Duke in 2013.
2. Johns Hopkins – 9
Johns Hopkins quarterback Ben O’Neill (with trophy) celebrates with his teammates after defeating Duke 12-11 in the 2007 championship game.
Championships: 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2005, 2007
Johns Hopkins is a great program with nine national championships, but hasn’t won one in the last 10 years. The Blue Jays won the 2007 title, then lost to Syracuse 13-10 in the 2008 title game.
3. Virginia — 7
Virginia Cavaliers players celebrate their 13-9 victory over Yale in the national championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Championships: 1972, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2019, 2021
The recent state champions are tied for third with a total of six state titles. In the 2019 NCAA Tournament, the Cavaliers went to two overtimes in the national semifinals to clinch the title, but only needed 60 minutes to capture the title. Virginia goaltender Alex Rhode made 13 saves and was named the league’s MVP.
4. Princeton – 6
Princeton University’s Rob Torti (1) holds the championship trophy over his head after beating Syracuse University 10-9 in the 2001 championship game at The Rutgers Stadium.
Championships: 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001
Princeton is another program that hasn’t made a championship game in recent years, with its last NCAA appearance in 2012. However, the Tigers won five national titles in seven years under head coach Bill Tierney from 1996-1998, including three in a row.
5. North Carolina – 5
UNC players celebrate their 15-14 victory over Maryland during the national championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Championships: 1981, 1982, 1986, 1991, 2016
The Tar Heels’ last championship was one to remember. Not only did they beat Maryland in overtime, but they didn’t lead that year. There are only seven teams left that have failed to compete for a championship, and UNC was the last to do so. And they did it in 1991, the 25th anniversary of their last title.
6 (those). Maryland – 4
Championship: 1973, 1975, 2017, 2022
The Terrapins won the championship in 2017 after 42 years and nine championship game losses. They beat Ohio State 9-6, led by a hat trick from Tim Rothanz. Matt Rambo and Connor Kelly led the Terrapins that year, bringing Maryland a title after a long drought. Maryland had a short wait for its next championship, topping Cornell in the finals to complete a perfect 18-0 season in 2022.
6 (those). Cornell – 4
1977 Cornell Men’s Lacrosse Championship Team
Championships: 1971, 1976, 1977, 2025
Cornell added to its three championships in the 1970s in 2025. Cornell continued to have a strong college lacrosse program even during the drought. Big Red was the national runner-up in 2009.
8. Duke – 3
Duke University’s Myles Jones celebrates an 11-9 victory over Notre Dame in the national championship game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Championship: 2010, 2013, 2014
The Blue Devils have been a powerhouse in college lacrosse over the past decade, winning three championships since 2010. Their last championship came against Notre Dame, their second straight lacrosse title and third in five seasons. Jordan Wolf led the Blue Devils with six points.
National champion from 1971 until now
| YEAR | THE CHAMPION | Coach | SCORE | PROGRESSIVE | HOST OR SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The year 2025 | Cornell (18-1) | Connor Bucek | 13-10 | Maryland | Foxboro, Mass. |
| The year 2024 | Notre Dame (15-1) | Kevin Corrigan | 15-5 | Maryland | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| The year 2023 | Notre Dame (14-2) | Kevin Corrigan | 13-9 | Duke | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| The year 2022 | Maryland (18-0) | John Tillman | 9-7 | Cornell | East Hartford, Conn. |
| 2021 | Virginia (14-4) | Lars Tiffany | 17-16 | Maryland | East Hartford, Conn. |
| 2020 | Canceled due to COVID-19 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | Virginia (17-3) | Lars Tiffany | 13-9 | Yale | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 2018 | Yale (17-3) | Andy Shay | 13-11 | Duke | Foxboro, Mass. |
| 2017 | Maryland (16-3) | John Tillman | 9-6 | Ohio State | Foxboro, Mass. |
| 2016 | North Carolina (12-6) | Joe Breschi | 14-13 (years) | Maryland | Philadelphia |
| 2015 | Denver (17-2) | Bill Tierney | 10-5 | Maryland | Philadelphia |
| 2014 | Duke (17-3) | John Danowski | 11-9 | Notre Dame | Baltimore |
| 2013 | Duke (16-5) | John Danowski | 16-10 | Syracuse | Philadelphia |
| 2012 | Loyola (And.) (18-1) | Charlie Toomey | 9-3 | Maryland | Foxboro, Mass. |
| 2011 | Virginia (13-5) | Dom Starsia | 9-7 | Maryland | Baltimore |
| 2010 | Duke (16-4) | John Danowski | 6-5 (lot) | Notre Dame | Baltimore |
| 2009 | Syracuse (16-2) | John Desko | 10-9 (lot) | Cornell | Boston |
| 2008 | Syracuse (16-2) | John Desko | 13-10 | Johns Hopkins | Boston |
| 2007 | Johns Hopkins (13-4) | Dave Pietramala | 12-11 | Duke | Baltimore |
| 2006 | Virginia (17-0) | Dom Starsia | 15-7 | Massachusetts | Philadelphia |
| 2005 | Johns Hopkins (16-0) | Dave Pietramala | 9-8 | Duke | Philadelphia |
| 2004 | Syracuse (15-2) | John Desko | 14-13 | Navy | Baltimore |
| 2003 | Virginia (15-2) | Dom Starsia | 9-7 | Johns Hopkins | Baltimore |
| 2002 | Syracuse (15-2) | John Desko | 13-12 | Princeton | Rutgers |
| 2001 | Princeton (14-1) | Bill Tierney | 10-9 (lot) | Syracuse | Rutgers |
| 2000 | Syracuse (15-1) | John Desko | 13-7 | Princeton | Maryland |
| 1999 | Virginia (13-3) | Dom Starsia | 12-10 | Syracuse | Maryland |
| 1998 | Princeton (14-1) | Bill Tierney | 15-5 | Maryland | Rutgers |
| 1997 | Princeton (16-0) | Bill Tierney | 19-7 | Maryland | Maryland |
| 1996 | Princeton (14-1) | Bill Tierney | 13-12 (year) | Virginia | Maryland |
| 1995 | Syracuse (13-2) | Roy Simmons Jr. | 13-9 | Maryland | Maryland |
| 1994 | Princeton (14-1) | Bill Tierney | 9-8 (note) | Virginia | Maryland |
| 1993 | Syracuse (12-2) | Roy Simmons Jr. | 13-12 | North Carolina | Maryland |
| 1992 | Princeton (13-2) | Bill Tierney | 10-9 (2 points) | Syracuse | Penn |
| 1991 | North Carolina (16-0) | Dave Klarmann | 18-13 | Towson | Syracuse |
| 1990 | Syracuse* (13-0) | Roy Simmons Jr. | 21-9 | Loyola Maryland | Rutgers |
| 1989 | Syracuse (14-1) | Roy Simmons Jr. | 13-12 | Johns Hopkins | Maryland |
| 1988 | Syracuse (15-0) | Roy Simmons Jr. | 13-8 | Cornell | Syracuse |
| 1987 | Johns Hopkins (10-3) | Don Zimmerman | 11-10 | Cornell | Rutgers |
| 1986 | North Carolina (11-3) | Willie Scrooges | 10-9 (lot) | Virginia | Delaware |
| 1985 | Johns Hopkins (13-1) | Don Zimmerman | 11-4 | Syracuse | Brown |
| 1984 | Johns Hopkins (14-0) | Don Zimmerman | 13-10 | Syracuse | Delaware |
| 1983 | Syracuse (14-1) | Roy Simmons Jr. | 17-16 | Johns Hopkins | Rutgers |
| 1982 | North Carolina (14-0) | Willie Scrooges | 7-5 | Johns Hopkins | Virginia |
| 1981 | North Carolina (12-0) | Willie Scrooges | 14-13 | Johns Hopkins | Princeton |
| 1980 | Johns Hopkins (14-1) | Henry Cicccarone | 9-8 (2 points) | Virginia | Cornell |
| 1979 | Johns Hopkins (13-0) | Henry Cicccarone | 15-9 | Maryland | Maryland |
| 1978 | Johns Hopkins (13-1) | Henry Cicccarone | 13-8 | Cornell | Rutgers |
| 1977 | Cornell (13-0) | Richie Moran | 16-8 | Johns Hopkins | Virginia |
| 1976 | Cornell (16-0) | Richie Moran | 16-13 (year) | Maryland | Brown |
| 1975 | Maryland (11-3) | Bud Beardmore | 20-13 | Navy | Johns Hopkins |
| 1974 | Johns Hopkins (12-2) | Bob Scott | 17-12 | Maryland | Rutgers |
| 1973 | Maryland (14-1) | Bud Beardmore | 10-9 (2 points) | Johns Hopkins | Penn |
| 1972 | Virginia (11-4) | Glenn Thiel | 13-12 | Johns Hopkins | Maryland |
| 1971 | Cornell (13-1) | Richie Moran | 12-6 | Maryland | Hofstra |
*Following the 1990 championship game, the NCAA Committee on Infractions ruled that Paul Gate was ineligible for the 1990 championship game. Under NCAA rules, Syracuse and Paul Gate’s championship record was expunged. The NCAA doesn’t recognize Syracuse and coach Roy Simmons’ 3-0 record, Paul Gate’s 7 goals and 7 assists in that championship game.
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