2026 Men's Lacrosse

[George64]

May 19, 1976, NCAA Quarterfinals
Cornell 14, Washington & Lee 0
Goaltender, Dan Mackesey '76

This was the first of Cornell's back to back championships. The title game is notable because the match versus Maryland ended a 12-12 tie, Cornell won 16-13 in overtime, and Maryland scored the first goal. At the time, the NCAA realized any one lacrosse goal can be fluky, so play 5 minutes.

Dan Mackesey Ithaca High '72

Mackesey was also the starting goalie for the men's soccer team. Those were the days when it was more common for star athletes to play two sports. Brock Tredway, for example, was a star hockey player for Cornell in the late '70s who also was on the soccer team.

Bruce Cohen, lacrosse hall of famer, led the Ivy League in goals one year playing soccer.  Also, a starting guard on freshman basketball team.  Busy guy.  No NIL, either.

All-American hockey defenseman Harry Orr '67 played lacrosse when Ned Harkness was coach.  He had a wicked underhand shot.  According to legend, Ned said he couldn't play hockey if he didn't play lacrosse.  Ned's lax teams were 35 and 1.  No NCAA championship in that era.

[Swampy]

May 19, 1976, NCAA Quarterfinals
Cornell 14, Washington & Lee 0
Goaltender, Dan Mackesey '76

This was the first of Cornell's back to back championships. The title game is notable because the match versus Maryland ended a 12-12 tie, Cornell won 16-13 in overtime, and Maryland scored the first goal. At the time, the NCAA realized any one lacrosse goal can be fluky, so play 5 minutes.

Dan Mackesey Ithaca High '72

Mackesey was also the starting goalie for the men's soccer team. Those were the days when it was more common for star athletes to play two sports. Brock Tredway, for example, was a star hockey player for Cornell in the late '70s who also was on the soccer team.

Bruce Cohen, lacrosse hall of famer, led the Ivy League in goals one year playing soccer.  Also, a starting guard on freshman basketball team.  Busy guy.  No NIL, either.

All-American hockey defenseman Harry Orr '67 played lacrosse when Ned Harkness was coach.  He had a wicked underhand shot.  According to legend, Ned said he couldn't play hockey if he didn't play lacrosse.  Ned's lax teams were 35 and 1.  No NCAA championship in that era.

This is not entirely true. Schools located within 100 miles of Baltimore were often (i.e., always) voted the national champion.

[TimV]

Voted.  No NCAA championship determined by tournament.

Also,  Harry Orr broke a goalie's ankle with that shot.  Dartmouth I think, on what was then lower alumni field.

[marty]

Voted.  No NCAA championship determined by tournament.

Also,  Harry Orr broke a goalie's ankle with that shot.  Dartmouth I think, on what was then lower alumni field.

Any comment on those playing two sports, Tim?

[Al DeFlorio]

Voted.  No NCAA championship determined by tournament.

Also,  Harry Orr broke a goalie's ankle with that shot.  Dartmouth I think, on what was then lower alumni field.

Any comment on those playing two sports, Tim?

TimV, IIRC.  A few football guys played lacrosse rather than just training to stay in football shape.

[jjanow99]

May 19, 1976, NCAA Quarterfinals
Cornell 14, Washington & Lee 0
Goaltender, Dan Mackesey '76

This was the first of Cornell's back to back championships. The title game is notable because the match versus Maryland ended a 12-12 tie, Cornell won 16-13 in overtime, and Maryland scored the first goal. At the time, the NCAA realized any one lacrosse goal can be fluky, so play 5 minutes.

Dan Mackesey Ithaca High '72

Mackesey was also the starting goalie for the men's soccer team. Those were the days when it was more common for star athletes to play two sports. Brock Tredway, for example, was a star hockey player for Cornell in the late '70s who also was on the soccer team.

Bruce Cohen, lacrosse hall of famer, led the Ivy League in goals one year playing soccer.  Also, a starting guard on freshman basketball team.  Busy guy.  No NIL, either.

All-American hockey defenseman Harry Orr '67 played lacrosse when Ned Harkness was coach.  He had a wicked underhand shot.  According to legend, Ned said he couldn't play hockey if he didn't play lacrosse.  Ned's lax teams were 35 and 1.  No NCAA championship in that era.

This is not entirely true. Schools located within 100 miles of Baltimore were often (i.e., always) voted the national champion.

I believe that Eamon McEneaney played varsity and/or lightweight football, wide receiver and punt returner.

[CU77]

All-American hockey defenseman Harry Orr '67 played lacrosse when Ned Harkness was coach.  He had a wicked underhand shot.  According to legend, Ned said he couldn't play hockey if he didn't play lacrosse.  Ned's lax teams were 35 and 1.  No NCAA championship in that era.

This is not entirely true. Schools located within 100 miles of Baltimore were often (i.e., always) voted the national champion.

Not always. In 1952, Ned Harkness's undefeated RPI team was voted co-champ with Virginia. Princeton and Army each had several championships and co-championships in the "Wingate Trophy" era, 1936-1970.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingate_Memorial_Trophy

[TimV]

@ Al D. and Marty:
There were quite a few football guys on those Harkness teams. I mostly remember Ned's first team in 1966. There was Reeve (Ting) Vanneman now a professor at the University of Maryland.  He was a tackle in football, also famous for being one of the guys who attempted to block Princeton's Charlie Gogolak field goals by standing alongside another tackle,  both with defensive backs (Dale Witwer and Jim Dockerty) standing on their shoulders.  Doug Zirkle was a bear of a midfielder (think Hugh Kelleher only bigger) who was a tight end in football and the cocaptain on the 1966 lacrosse team.  Both, I think were All- Ivy in both sports.  Midfielder Bob Smith was a wide receiver in football.  Bill Finan, Jerry Dolan and I were just trying to avoid football's spring V-Program. V stood for voluntary, but it wasn't voluntary.  No real football then, just running and conditioning.  The only way out was to be in a spring sport, so...

Also, Harry Orr (Fan Favorite Harry Orr) was a great defenseman and key guy on Ned's hockey teams, so I don't buy the story that Ned threatened him if he didn't play lacrosse.

[Al DeFlorio]

@ Al D. and Marty:
There were quite a few football guys on those Harkness teams. I mostly remember Ned's first team in 1966. There was Reeve (Ting) Vanneman now a professor at the University of Maryland.  He was a tackle in football, also famous for being one of the guys who attempted to block Princeton's Charlie Gogolak field goals by standing alongside another tackle,  both with defensive backs (Dale Witwer and Jim Dockerty) standing on their shoulders.  Doug Zirkle was a bear of a midfielder (think Hugh Kelleher only bigger) who was a tight end in football and the cocaptain on the 1966 lacrosse team.  Both, I think were All- Ivy in both sports.  Midfielder Bob Smith was a wide receiver in football.  Bill Finan, Jerry Dolan and I were just trying to avoid football's spring V-Program. V stood for voluntary, but it wasn't voluntary.  No real football then, just running and conditioning.  The only way out was to be in a spring sport, so...

Also, Harry Orr (Fan Favorite Harry Orr) was a great defenseman and key guy on Ned's hockey teams, so I don't buy the story that Ned threatened him if he didn't play lacrosse.

Orr was named ECAC's best defensive defenseman for the 1966-1967 season.  Roster listed him as 5'9" and 150 pounds.  Other listings said 170.  IIRC, he came to Cornell as a forward, and Ned moved him to defense, as he did with Steve Giuliani, Bruce Pattison and Dan Lodboa.