Harvard Crimson men's lacrosse
Encyclopedia
The Harvard Crimson men's lacrosse team represents Harvard University
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse
. Harvard competes as a member of the Ivy League
and plays its home games at Cumnock Turf and Harvard Stadium
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
to win the first intercollegiate lacrosse tournament. In 1882, the Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association was formed, and the following season also inducted the newly established Yale lacrosse
team. Harvard and Princeton dominated the league throughout the 1880s, and the Crimson claimed the title in 1882, 1885, 1886, and 1887. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse League (USILL) was formed in 1905, divided into a Northern Division and Southern Division. Championships were awarded in each division based on record and strength of schedule
. Harvard was named the Northern Division champions six consecutive seasons from 1908 to 1913, and again in 1915.
In 1941, Navy refused to play the integrated Harvard team, so its athletic director ordered home its one black player
rather than forfeit the game. The Crimson secured the Ivy League championship with the best league record in 1964, 1980, and 1990. In 1971
, the NCAA established the national championship tournament
. Harvard made its first appearance in 1980
, when it lost in the first round to Johns Hopkins, 16–12. The Crimson returned to the event in 1988
and were edge, 10–9, by Navy
in the opening round. In 1990
, Harvard won its first NCAA tournament game when it defeated Notre Dame
, 9–3. In the quarterfinals, the Crimson were beaten handily, 18–3, by North Carolina
. Harvard returned to the quarterfinals in 1996
, after beating Hofstra
, 15–12, and then fell to eventual national runners-up Virginia
, 23–12. It was a decade before the Crimson again reached the tournament. They were beaten in the 2006
first round by Syracuse
, 11–4.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
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...
(NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
. Harvard competes as a member of the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
and plays its home games at Cumnock Turf and Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium is a horseshoe-shaped football stadium in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Built in 1903, the stadium seats 30,323. The stadium seated up to 57,166 in the past, as permanent steel stands were installed in the north end of the stadium in 1929...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
History
Harvard fielded its first lacrosse team in 1878, and the following year, joined the United States National Amateur Lacrosse Association alongside New York University and nine club teams. In 1881, Harvard defeated PrincetonPrinceton Tigers men's lacrosse
The Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team represents Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
to win the first intercollegiate lacrosse tournament. In 1882, the Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association was formed, and the following season also inducted the newly established Yale lacrosse
Yale Bulldogs men's lacrosse
The Yale Bulldogs men's lacrosse team represents Yale University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Yale competes as a member of the Ivy League and plays their home games at Reese Stadium in New Haven, Connecticut. The Bulldogs have captured the Ivy League...
team. Harvard and Princeton dominated the league throughout the 1880s, and the Crimson claimed the title in 1882, 1885, 1886, and 1887. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse League (USILL) was formed in 1905, divided into a Northern Division and Southern Division. Championships were awarded in each division based on record and strength of schedule
Strength of schedule
In sports, strength of schedule refers to the difficulty or ease of a team's/person's opponent as compared to other teams/persons. This is especially important if teams in a league do not play each other the same number of times.-Computation:...
. Harvard was named the Northern Division champions six consecutive seasons from 1908 to 1913, and again in 1915.
In 1941, Navy refused to play the integrated Harvard team, so its athletic director ordered home its one black player
1941 Harvard–Navy lacrosse game
The Harvard-Navy lacrosse game of 1941 was an intercollegiate lacrosse game between the Harvard University Crimson and the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen on April 4, 1941. The game was played at Navy's campus in Annapolis, Maryland. Before the game, the Naval Academy's superintendent told...
rather than forfeit the game. The Crimson secured the Ivy League championship with the best league record in 1964, 1980, and 1990. In 1971
1971 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1971 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the first Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Prior to this the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association had voted for the national champion and, subsequently, awarded the Wingate Memorial Trophy for the NCAA...
, the NCAA established the national championship tournament
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
. Harvard made its first appearance in 1980
1980 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1980 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 10th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Eight NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament. The championship game...
, when it lost in the first round to Johns Hopkins, 16–12. The Crimson returned to the event in 1988
1988 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1988 tournament championship game was played at Syracuse University in front of 20,148 fans. The Syracuse Orangemen defeated the Cornell Big Red, 13-8 for the first of their three straight NCAA titles....
and were edge, 10–9, by Navy
Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse
The Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse team represents the United States Naval Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Navy currently competes as a member of the Patriot League and play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland...
in the opening round. In 1990
1990 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1990 tournament championship game was played at Rutgers University in front of 19,070 fans. The Syracuse Orangemen defeated the Loyola Greyhounds, 21–9. Syracuse's participation in the tournament was later vacated by the NCAA Committee on infractions. Syracuse was found to have violated rules...
, Harvard won its first NCAA tournament game when it defeated Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's lacrosse
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's lacrosse team represents the University of Notre Dame in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college lacrosse...
, 9–3. In the quarterfinals, the Crimson were beaten handily, 18–3, by North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
. Harvard returned to the quarterfinals in 1996
1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 26th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, after beating Hofstra
Hofstra Pride men's lacrosse
The Hofstra Pride men's lacrosse team represents Hofstra University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse competition. The university first fielded a varsity men's lacrosse team in 1949, hiring Howdy Myers the following season from Johns Hopkins to take over the...
, 15–12, and then fell to eventual national runners-up Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse
The Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Virginia in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
, 23–12. It was a decade before the Crimson again reached the tournament. They were beaten in the 2006
2006 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 36th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The semifinals and...
first round by Syracuse
Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
, 11–4.