Cortland's 2006 Lacrosse Champs Honored After 20 Years

Twenty years ago, a group of college athletes pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Division III lacrosse history, and this Sunday, they're getting the recognition they deserve.

Cortland's 2006 national championship lacrosse team will be honored at halftime of the NCAA Division III title game at the University of Virginia. The celebration marks two decades since the Red Dragons shocked 24,000 fans by defeating Salisbury, the three-time defending champions, 13-12 in overtime.

That championship run was nothing short of magical. Cortland battled through four straight nail-biters, including a 7-6 overtime thriller against Wesleyan that sent them to Philadelphia for the final showdown. When the final whistle blew after that championship game, the underdogs had claimed their third national title in program history.

Kyle Lambert, a second-team All-American from that squad, has spent months reconnecting with his former teammates to make Sunday's reunion possible. His efforts mean that the same players who once celebrated together in Philadelphia will now walk onto another championship field, this time as honored guests watching RIT take on Tufts.

The 2006 season produced six All-Americans from Cortland's roster, with Mike Abbott earning first-team honors. That level of recognition showed the country that the Red Dragons' championship was no fluke. Two players even competed in the prestigious North-South game, representing the best talent Division III lacrosse had to offer.

Why This Inspires

Some victories echo beyond their moment. For 20 years, that 2006 team has represented what happens when underdogs refuse to quit, when overtime doesn't mean surrender, and when belief beats expectations. Their reunion reminds current players that the moments they're fighting for today become the memories they'll treasure decades later.

Sunday's halftime ceremony gives a new generation of lacrosse players the chance to see what legacy looks like in person.