Princeton Wins 7th NCAA Lacrosse Title in Dominant Run

Princeton University's men's lacrosse team just reminded everyone why they're champions, racing past Notre Dame 16-9 to claim their seventh NCAA title in spectacular fashion.

The Tigers' season-ending 12-game winning streak culminated at Virginia's Scott Stadium, where they transformed an early 3-0 deficit into an unforgettable championship run. What happened next was pure magic.

Princeton erupted for 11 consecutive goals, turning that early hole into an 11-3 halftime lead. The offensive explosion included eight goals in the second quarter alone, leaving Notre Dame scrambling to find answers that never came.

Chad Palumbo led the charge with four goals, while Colin Burns added three more. But the real story was the complete team effort that saw six different Tigers find the net.

Goalie Ryan Croddick earned Most Outstanding Player honors after stopping 13 shots following those first three Notre Dame goals. His 20-save performance in the semifinal win over Duke set the stage for Monday's championship dominance.

By the final minutes, Princeton fans were belting out "Hey Baby" on repeat. The song plays after every Tiger goal, and they had 16 reasons to celebrate.

Why This Inspires

This championship carries special meaning beyond the trophy. The 2001 championship team was honored at halftime, celebrating 25 years since Princeton's most recent title before this one.

The Tigers showed that early setbacks don't define outcomes. Down 3-0 in a national championship game, they could have panicked. Instead, they trusted their preparation and dominated for the remaining 55 minutes.

Four players earned all-tournament honors: Palumbo, Burns, Nate Kabiri, and Tucker Wade. Their performances showcased the depth that carried Princeton through an undefeated final stretch.

The celebration at Scott Stadium captured everything beautiful about college sports. Families, students, and alumni packed the stands, creating a wall of orange and black that sang their team to the finish line.

Princeton's victory proves that building a championship culture takes time, patience, and belief in a system that works even when things start badly.