Virginia Wins Its Seventh NCAA National Title with 17-16 Win Over Maryland

EAST HARTFORD, Conn.  – The No. 4 seeded Virginia Cavaliers (14-4) captured the program’s seventh NCAA title with a 17-16 triumph over No. 3 seeded Maryland (15-1), becoming the first team in program history to win back-to-back titles, on Monday afternoon at Rentschler Field.

UVA has won six titles since 1999 and now has won at least one championship in four-straight decades. Virginia is also the first NCAA DI men’s lacrosse program to win six-straight games in the NCAA finals (1999, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2019 and 2021). The national title is the program’s ninth overall, which includes USILA titles in 1952 and 1970 before the NCAA started a tournament.

Connor Shellenberger was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and led UVA with four goals and two assists in the title game. Matt Moore also added four goals and two assists in the win, while Jeff Conner added three goals and one assist.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Connor Shellenberger, Virginia (Most Outstanding Player)
Cade Saustad, Virginia
Alex Rode, Virginia
Petey LaSalla, Virginia
Jared Conners, Virginia
Matt Moore, Virginia
Nick Grill, Maryland
Logan Wisnauskas, Maryland
Jared Bernhardt, Maryland
William Perry, North Carolina

 UVA STAT LEADERS
• M Connor Shellenberger
4 goals, 2 assists
• A Matt Moore
4 goals, 2 assists
• M Jeff Conner
3 goals, 1 assist
• GK Alex Rode
12 saves

NOTES
• Virginia won its seventh NCAA title in men’s lacrosse. UVA the win snapped a tie with Princeton for No. 3 all-time.
• UVA is the first men’s lacrosse program in DI history to win six-straight games in the NCAA finals.
• UVA has won eight NCAA Tournament games in a row, which is a program record.
• With no NCAA Tournament played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UVA wins back-to-back titles for the first time in program history.
• UVA’s win is its 56th all-time win in the NCAA Tournament, which ranks No. 4 all-time.
• UVA is now 7-4 all-time in the NCAA Finals
• UVA is 8-1 all-time in the NCAA under Lars Tiffany.
• Connor Shellenberger the NCAA Tournament with 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points.

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
“We went into the game thinking how can we get away from the matchups that Maryland will put on us because we have incredible respect for 43 Makar and 54 Grill. But it was Connor Shellenberger stepping up and showing that he can win that matchup, he can win his matchup. The balance that he plays with, understanding when to attack because the opposing defense isn’t sliding versus when they are sliding and he can become the facilitator, the quarterback, he’s got a great balance for that. He’s not putting himself too far out in front and making himself like hunting points. He can let the game come to him and take what he sees. And then Matt Moore, stepping up on the biggest stage. I remember two years ago against Yale what a fantastic effort he had that day and here he is again with four goals. Our offense starts with those guys but we’re so lucky to have such a plethora of offensive personnel with Laviano and Payton and Connor, et cetera.” – Lars Tiffany