BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Championship begins with first-round action on Tuesday, April 28. No. 3 Boston University welcomes No. 6 Lehigh at 6 p.m., while No. 4 Bucknell hosts No. 5 Colgate at 7:30 p.m. Live coverage of both games is available on ESPN+.
Boston University and head coach Ryan Polley makes their sixth straight appearance and ninth overall to the championship since joining the Patriot League in 2014. Lehigh and head coach Will Scudder return to the Patriot League Championship for a League-record 16th consecutive year. The Terriers knocked off the Mountain Hawks, 14-13 in overtime, behind junior Tyler Fox’s goal 23 seconds into the extra frame on March 7 at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Faceoff between Boston University and Lehigh is set for 6 p.m. at Nickerson Field on ESPN+.
The No. 4 Bison and head coach Frank Fedorjaka make their first appearance in the Patriot League Championship since 2022 and will host a first-round game for the first time since 2018. Eighth-year head coach Matt Karweck and defending Patriot League champion Colgate will look to become the League’s first repeat winner since Loyola Maryland (2016-18), as the Raiders earned the No. 5 seed for the third straight year. Bucknell defeated Colgate, 14-12, at home on March 14, as live coverage of Tuesday’s matchup between the Bison and the Raiders begins at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
The lowest-remaining seed advances to play No. 1 Army West Point on Friday, May 1, at 4 p.m. The highest-advancing seed moves on to play No. 2 Loyola Maryland at 7:30 p.m. Both semifinal-round games will air on CBS Sports Network. Dave Ryan and Evan Washburn are on the call for the semifinals and championship game, while Paige Messier will handle sideline duties for the championship game.
The 2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Championship Game is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at noon on CBS Sports Network.
For more information, visit the 2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Championship page by CLICKING HERE.
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Championship Schedule
First Round – Tuesday, April 28 | Hosted by Higher Seed
No. 6 Lehigh at No. 3 Boston University, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ | Stats
No. 5 Colgate at No. 4 Bucknell 7:30 p.m., ESPN+ | Stats
Semifinals – Friday, May 1 | Hosted by U.S. Military Academy
Lowest-remaining seed at No. 1 Army West Point, 4 p.m., CBS Sports Network | Stats
Highest-remaining seed at No. 2 Loyola Maryland, 7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network | Stats
Championship Game – Sunday, May 3 | Hosted by U.S. Military Academy
Lowest-remaining seed vs. Highest-remaining seed, 12 p.m., CBS Sports Network
NO. 6 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (7-7, 4-4 PL) AT NO. 3 BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS (8-5, 6-2 PL)
Nickerson Field/Boston, Mass. | 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
ESPN+ | Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY – Boston University and Lehigh will meet for the 16th time in series history with the Mountain Hawks holding a 9-6 advantage. The teams will square off in the Patriot League Championship for the fifth time, with the series tied at 2-2, as the Mountain Hawks most recently defeated the Terriers, 11-10, in the 2024 Patriot League championship game.
REGULAR-SEASON MEETING (March 7 – Boston University 14, Lehigh 13 (OT) - BOX SCORE) – Boston University sophomore attack Timothy Shannehan forced overtime with 2.7 seconds remaining and Fox scored less than a minute into the extra period to give the Terriers a 14-13 victory over Lehigh back on March 7.
Shannehan finished with a game-high seven points on one goal and six assists, while Lehigh sophomore attack Luke Breslin and first-year attack Finn Morgan each registered a hat trick to lead the Mountain Hawks.
Terriers’ sophomore Madden Murphy finished an impressive 20-of-27 at the ‘X’, while Mountain Hawks’ senior goalkeeper Kasey Heath totaled 16 saves.
PREVIEWS: LEHIGH | BOSTON UNIVERSITY
NO. 5 COLGATE RAIDERS (5-8, 4-4 PL) AT NO. 4 BUCKNELL BISON (8-6, 4-4 PL)
Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium/Lewisburg, Pa. | 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
ESPN+ | Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY – Bucknell and Colgate matchup for the 48th time in series history, with the Bison holding a 27-20 edge. The Bison and Raiders have faced off six times in the Patriot League Championship, with Colgate leading the series 5-1, including an 18-5 victory most recently in 2015.
REGULAR-SEASON MEETING (March 14 – Bucknell 14, Colgate 12 - BOX SCORE) – With the game tied at 10-10 entering the fourth quarter, Bucknell scored the first three goals of the period to help earn a 14-12 home victory over Colgate on March 14.
Bison senior attack Owen Kovacs finished with a career-high five goals, while fellow senior attack Michael Meyer totaled eight points on two goals and six assists.
For the Raiders, senior midfielder Hunter Drouin scored a team-high six points on four goals and two assists, while sophomore attack Casey Quinson recorded a hat trick.
PREVIEWS: COLGATE | BUCKNELL
Men’s Lacrosse Major Award Winners in First Round
Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Madden Murphy, Boston U., So., FO
Rookie of the Year – Finn Morgan, Lehigh, Fy., A
Men’s Lacrosse Postseason All-League Honorees in First Round
Colgate: Sam Erickson (First Team), Hunter Drouin (Second Team), Jack Carrabine (Second Team), Patty Eldredge (Second Team)
Boston University: Timothy Shannehan (First Team), Tyler Fox (First Team), Andrew Pape (First Team), Connor Kehm (First Team), Madden Murphy (First Team), Logan Styles (Second Team), Donald Vernerin (Second Team)
Bucknell: Michael Meyer (First Team), Peter Grandolfo (First Team)
Lehigh: Luke Breslin (First Team), Richard Checo (First Team), Finn Morgan (Second Team), Luke Winkler (Second Team), Luke McAuliffe (Second Team), Kasey Heath (Second Team)
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The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.