University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
14-1, 6-0
#3 Seed Saint Joseph's (Finals)
7-6, 3-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Richmond | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
CHAMPIONS! No. 3 Richmond Defeats Saint Joseph’s, 8–6, to Secure Back-to-Back Atlantic 10 Titles
05/02/2026 | Men's Lacrosse
Richmond, Va. – The University of Richmond men's lacrosse team defeated Saint Joseph's, 8–6, Saturday at Robins Stadium to win the Atlantic 10 Betterment Men's Lacrosse Championship and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The appearance will be Richmond's seventh in 13 seasons, meaning more than half of the program's years have ended with an NCAA Tournament berth.
Saturday's championship marked Richmond's 12th consecutive title-game appearance, as the Spiders captured their third Atlantic 10 title in the last four seasons and secured back-to-back championships for the first time since 2022–23.
Lucas Littlejohn opened the scoring at 9:39 of the first quarter, finishing a rebound at the crease for the game's only goal of the opening frame in a defensive first quarter. Saint Joseph's goalie Charlie Giachetti made four of his 13 saves in the period, while Richmond outshot the Hawks 10–4 behind two faceoff wins from Vincent Gaylord and caused turnovers from goalie Connor Knight and defenseman Connor Kelly.
Defense defined the day on both sides. Knight finished with nine saves in goal, while the Spiders forced 10 of Saint Joseph's 13 turnovers. Hunter Smith and Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson each recorded three caused turnovers, while Kelly and Knight added two apiece. Richmond also controlled possession, holding a 34–25 advantage in ground balls, led by Penafeather-Stevenson (5), Knight (4), Gaylord (4), Aidan O'Neil (3), and Smith (3). Across the two-game championship run, Richmond's defense allowed just 13 total goals.
Charlie Packard extended the lead to 2–0 at 10:39 of the second quarter off a feed from Jack Ricciardi. Saint Joseph's responded at 9:01 and later tied the game at 2–2 with 1:44 remaining in the half.
Richmond answered with two goals in the final minute to take a 4–2 halftime lead. O'Neil scored with 37 seconds left, followed by Daniel Picart, who muscled through traffic for his first goal with seven seconds remaining.
Picart added his second at 10:06 of the third quarter before Saint Joseph's cut the deficit to 5–3 at 9:32. Richmond responded on the man-up opportunity at 6:24, as Gavin Creo finished an extra-man goal off a pass from Ricciardi at 5:58 to restore a three-goal lead.
The Hawks scored at 2:48, but Joe Sheridan answered at 2:00 off a Packard assist, and then struck again with four seconds left in the quarter, finishing a feed from Creo to give Richmond its largest lead at 8–4.
Saint Joseph's scored twice in the fourth at 9:55 and 3:20 to close within 8–6, but Richmond closed out the game to secure the championship.
The win was Richmond's 14th of the season, matching the program record set in 2025.
Six Spiders were named to the All-Championship Team: Sheridan, Smith, Picart, Gaylord, Knight, and Championship Most Outstanding Performer Aidan O'Neil.
Richmond will learn its NCAA Tournament opponent and destination during the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Selection Show on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
