1976 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
Encyclopedia
The 1976 NCAA
Division I tournament championship game was played at Brown University
in front of 7,504 fans. The undefeated Cornell Big Red
, led by lacrosse Hall of Famers Richard M. Moran
, Mike French and Eamon McEneaney
, defeated Maryland with hall-of-famer Frank Urso
, 16 to 13 in overtime. Throughout the 1970s, Cornell University
was dominant in lacrosse with four final appearances and three titles and the 1976 and 1977 versions of the Big Red are generally considered to be among the best college lacrosse teams of all time.
For the first time in NCAA tournament history, two undefeated teams, No. 1 Maryland and No. 2 Cornell, would meet in the championship game. The game did not disappoint as Cornell down 7-2 at halftime, outscored Maryland 6-2 in the third period to pull within one goal entering the final period. The Terps opened the fourth period with a goal to go up 10-8, but the next four tallies belonged to the Cornell who led 12-10 with three minutes to play. Maryland, however, would get back-to-back goals, including a buzzer-beater, to knot the game and send the contest into overtime. After an initial tally by the Terps’ Terry Kimball, the Cornell would score four unanswered goals to claim the crown with a 16-13 victory. Mike French tied the then-NCAA tournament single-game scoring record, finishing the day with seven goals and four assists.
Cornell earlier in the tournament recorded the only shutout in NCAA tournament history when they blanked Washington and Lee 14 to 0 during the first round.
In a 22-11 semifinal win against Navy, Maryland's Ed Mullen had 7 goals and 5 assists to set the tournament record of 12 total points in one game.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I tournament championship game was played at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in front of 7,504 fans. The undefeated Cornell Big Red
Cornell Big Red men's lacrosse
The Cornell Big Red Men's Lacrosse team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Cornell competes as a member of the Ivy League, of which they have won 23 conference championships. The Big Red have appeared in the NCAA tournament 22...
, led by lacrosse Hall of Famers Richard M. Moran
Richard M. Moran
Richard M. "Richie" Moran is a Hall of Fame lacrosse player and coach.His playing career began as an All-County midfielder at Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, New York from 1951–1955 and helped his team to four consecutive undefeated seasons before heading to the University of Maryland where...
, Mike French and Eamon McEneaney
Eamon McEneaney
Eamon McEneaney was an All-American lacrosse player at Cornell University from 1975 to 1977 who was killed during the September 11 attacks.-Cornell Big Red:...
, defeated Maryland with hall-of-famer Frank Urso
Frank Urso
Frank Urso is a former American lacrosse player and current high school lacrosse coach, best known for his collegiate career at the University of Maryland from 1973 to 1976...
, 16 to 13 in overtime. Throughout the 1970s, Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
was dominant in lacrosse with four final appearances and three titles and the 1976 and 1977 versions of the Big Red are generally considered to be among the best college lacrosse teams of all time.
For the first time in NCAA tournament history, two undefeated teams, No. 1 Maryland and No. 2 Cornell, would meet in the championship game. The game did not disappoint as Cornell down 7-2 at halftime, outscored Maryland 6-2 in the third period to pull within one goal entering the final period. The Terps opened the fourth period with a goal to go up 10-8, but the next four tallies belonged to the Cornell who led 12-10 with three minutes to play. Maryland, however, would get back-to-back goals, including a buzzer-beater, to knot the game and send the contest into overtime. After an initial tally by the Terps’ Terry Kimball, the Cornell would score four unanswered goals to claim the crown with a 16-13 victory. Mike French tied the then-NCAA tournament single-game scoring record, finishing the day with seven goals and four assists.
Cornell earlier in the tournament recorded the only shutout in NCAA tournament history when they blanked Washington and Lee 14 to 0 during the first round.
In a 22-11 semifinal win against Navy, Maryland's Ed Mullen had 7 goals and 5 assists to set the tournament record of 12 total points in one game.
Tournament results
- * = Overtime