Cross noted that playing the tournament on foreign soil helped to further build the bonds among the members of the team.
“You really get to know a lot about each other when you are travelling,” she said, “and that made us come together. It was a very easy group to be a part of. We were all good friends, and still are. We were one.”
The 1976 Cornell men are considered by many to be among the best all-time teams in the NCAA era. The Big Red capped an undefeated national championship season by defeating Maryland, 16-13, in the title game, finishing 16-0 overall. The Terps were the defending NCAA champions and also undefeated heading into the final.
Coached by Hall of Famer Richie Moran, Cornell featured 10 players who earned All-America honors in 1976, and six players who were eventually inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. They are: Mike French (1991 HOF), Eamon McEneaney (1992 HOF), Bob Henrickson (1993 HOF), Chris Kane (1994 HOF), Bill Marino (1996 HOF) and Dan Mackesey (2006 HOF).
Cornell’s impressive 1976 resume included seven games in which the Big Red limited their opponent to six goals or less, and five games in which Cornell’s explosive offense scored at least 21 goals. The Big Red captured their third straight Ivy League title that year before beginning their march through the NCAA Tournament. Cornell’s perfect record in 1976 became the foundation of a winning streak that would eventually grow to 42 games over three seasons, the longest NCAA Division I winning streak ever.
“We came into 1976 with a big chip on our shoulder after getting upset by Navy at home in the 1975 playoffs. That loss really left a bad taste in our mouths, and we were committed to doing what we could to get past that” said French, a team captain who scored seven goals in the national championship game and was named the nation’s most outstanding player in 1976.
“We hadn't played in too many close games that year, and against Maryland, we had one of those days where we came out slow (trailing 7-2 at halftime), but just battled back and took control. Thankfully, it wasn't sudden death in those days because Maryland scored first in overtime.”
Primary criteria for the US Lacrosse Team of Distinction Award include the following:
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Impact and contribution to the game of lacrosse.
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An extraordinary winning streak.
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National or World Championships won.
The US Lacrosse Men’s and Women’s Hall of Fame Committees make the selections for the award, although selection does not constitute election into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Selections are approved by US Lacrosse’s Board of Directors.
Created in 2016, the US Lacrosse Team of Distinction Award has been previously awarded to the 1950 Johns Hopkins University men’s team, the 1969 U.S. Women’s Touring Team, the 1965 Navy men’s team, and the 1975 U.S. Women’s Touring Team.
Details about a public recognition for the 2020 Team of Distinction Award winners will be announced in the future.