Cornell Maryland Lacrosse National Championship

It’s been a special year for the Cornell men’s lacrosse team. Big Red has been the number one in the country for several weeks, and led by Tewaaraton Award finalist CJ Kirst. 

Now Cornell has a chance to cap off with a NCAA National Championship on Monday when Big Red takes on Maryland. 

“From the time we recruit these guys to the time they come on campus, and throughout this year specifically, we spent a lot of time putting them in adverse situations,” said Connor Buczek, Cornell’s head coach. “That’s how you grow a little bit of a callus and an opportunity to just stay in the fight. And so, when we trust each other and there’s belief in that locker room.”

This will be a rematch of the 2022 title game, when the Terrapins defeated Cornell 9-7. It took for three years, but Buczek has finally led Big Red back within 60 minutes of winning its first national championship since 1977.

“When we trust each other, there’s belief in that locker room of every player is going to do their job,” Buczek said. 

While it’s two in four seasons for Cornell, Maryland will be playing in its fourth national championship game in five seasons. This will be the fourth time Cornell and Maryland will be meeting in the title game. 

“I know we’re going to enjoy the time together that we have,” Kirst said. “Not really focus on what’s going on right now, but focus on each other, focus on getting our bodies right, and all eyes to playing Monday.”

The Maryland team has a couple of connections to Upstate New York. Terrapins goalie Logan McNaney is from Corning. Maryland head coach John Tillman who’s also a Corning native, played and graduated from Cornell in 1991.

Maryland and Cornell will get underway 1 p.m. Monday from Gillette Stadium.