If you were sitting in the stands at Gillette Stadium this past May, you didn't just watch a game. You watched a changing of the guard. Honestly, the NCAA lacrosse bracket 2025 was probably the most chaotic, bracket-busting month the sport has seen since the late 70s. People expected the usual heavy hitters like Notre Dame or Maryland to just waltz into the final Monday, but the Ivy League had other plans.
Cornell actually did it.
They didn't just win; they dismantled the narrative that you need a "big name" blue-blood defense to hoist the trophy in the modern era. CJ Kirst didn't just play well—he tied the all-time single-season scoring record with six goals in the final alone. It was wild.
The Selection Sunday Shockers
Everything started on May 4. Selection Sunday is usually a bit predictable, but the 2025 committee decided to throw a few curveballs that had coaches like Ohio State’s Nick Myers scratching their heads. Despite the Buckeyes beating Maryland earlier in the season, they got jumped in the seeding.
Basically, the committee valued RPI and "strength of schedule" over head-to-head wins this year. It felt a little unfair to the Big Ten, but it set the stage for some massive chips on some very talented shoulders.
The 18-Team Field
We had 18 teams this year. Ten of those got in through automatic qualifiers—basically winning their conference tournament—while the other eight were at-large bids.
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- The Top Seeds: Cornell took the #1 spot after an absolute tear through the Ivy League. Maryland followed at #2, despite some late-season stumbles.
- The ACC Logjam: This was the biggest headache. Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Syracuse all made the cut, but because of how the seeds fell, some of these "home" teams had to travel.
- The Play-ins: We saw Albany and Siena battling it out just to get into the first round proper.
How the Bracket Broke Down
The first round was on May 10 and 11. If you bet on the favorites, you probably lost a lot of money that weekend.
One of the biggest "did that really happen?" moments was Notre Dame—the two-time defending champs—getting pushed to the brink by Ohio State in the first round. They survived that one 15-6, but the cracks were showing. Then you had Penn State barely squeaking by Colgate 13-11.
Quarterfinal Chaos in Annapolis and Hempstead
By May 17, the tournament moved to the "neutral" sites. Annapolis was rocking.
Penn State pulled off what many consider the upset of the decade by knocking out Notre Dame 14-12. Seeing the Fighting Irish go down before the Final Four was a genuine shock to the system. Matt Traynor was possessed, putting up six goals. Meanwhile, over in Hempstead, Cornell was busy surviving a 13-12 scare against Richmond.
It's sorta funny how we focus on the big names, but Richmond almost ruined the party before it even started.
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The Final Four at Foxborough
Gillette Stadium is a massive venue, and for the semifinals on May 24, it felt like the center of the universe.
Semifinal 1: Cornell vs. Penn State
Cornell took this one 11-9. It wasn't the offensive explosion everyone expected. It was a grind. Wyatt Knust, the Cornell goalie, came up with nine saves that felt like fifty.
Semifinal 2: Maryland vs. Syracuse
The Terps showed why they are never out of it. They beat Syracuse 14-8. Syracuse had a great run, but Maryland’s defense—led by Logan McNaney’s 14 saves—just suffocated Joey Spallina and the Cuse offense.
The National Championship: Cornell vs. Maryland
Memorial Day Monday. May 26, 2025.
Maryland was looking for their 18th title game appearance. Cornell was looking for their first title since 1977.
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The Terps actually started strong, but Cornell’s Ryan Goldstein and CJ Kirst are a nightmare to scout. They play with this telepathic connection that makes traditional slides look useless. Cornell ended up winning 13-10.
The Kirst family celebration on the field afterward is something people will be talking about for years. It wasn't just a win; it was a legacy-defining moment for that program.
Why the 2025 Bracket Mattered
This year proved that the "transfer portal era" has leveled the playing field. You can't just rely on a four-year recruiting cycle anymore. Teams like Georgetown and Richmond are getting veteran talent that keeps them competitive with the giants.
Also, the Ivy League is officially back. For a few years there, people thought the ACC and Big Ten had moved into a different tier, but Cornell and Princeton proved that the Ivies can still dictate the pace of the national conversation.
Key Takeaways from the Season
- Offense wins championships: In a shift from the "defense wins championships" mantra, Cornell’s #1 ranked scoring offense took the trophy.
- Goalie play is the x-factor: Every single game in the quarterfinals and beyond was decided by which goalie had a "wall" quarter.
- Seeding is flawed: The outcry over Ohio State’s seeding might actually lead to some committee changes in 2026.
Your Next Steps for Following Lacrosse
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, don't just wait for the selection show next May.
- Watch the Fall Ball scrimmages: This is where you see which transfers are actually clicking with their new teammates.
- Follow the RPI closely starting in March: As we saw with the NCAA lacrosse bracket 2025, the committee is leaning harder on the math than the "eye test."
- Check out the mid-major conferences: Teams in the ASUN and Patriot League are no longer "easy wins" in the first round.
The 2025 season is in the books, but the shift in power we saw at Gillette Stadium is going to define the sport for the next five years. Cornell is on top, but the target on their back has never been bigger.