High-Octane RIT, Tufts to Meet in NCAA Division III Men's Championship Game

Two Division III powerhouses are on their way to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to fight for the NCAA men’s lacrosse championship.

RIT and Tufts — who met in last season’s NCAA semifinals — will meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern for the crown. Tufts won that meeting last May 15-11, but RIT beat the Jumbos 16-11 on March 16.

Both teams advanced to the championship with wins on Sunday in the semifinals.

Washington and Lee gave the Jumbos all they could handle, and Tufts needed fourth-quarter insurance to win 19-13. The Generals put pressure on the Jumbos in the first quarter, scoring six straight to take a 7-4 lead. Tufts ended the game with 15 of the final 21 goals.

Four Jumbos — Charlie Tagliaferri, Garrett Kelly, Brooks Hauser and Will Emsing — had hat tricks. Conner Garzone made 15 saves. Tufts unleashed 62 shots in the game and won the ground ball battle 45-34.

RIT, on the other hand, never trailed in its 19-11 win over Bowdoin.

The Tigers scored nine of 10 goals split between the second and third quarters to open up a 13-4 advantage.

Clifford Gaston had seven goals and two assists, and Jake Erickson had three goals and two assists. Alex Zborowski made 13 saves.

RIT has won two national championships (2021, 2022), while Tufts has won three national titles (2010, 2014, 2015).