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In one of the most dramatic finishes in recent NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse history, the University of Tampa men’s lacrosse team stormed back from an early four-goal deficit to defeat two-time defending national champion Adelphi University 12–11 in overtime on May 24, 2026. Playing at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Spartans captured their second NCAA Division II national championship in a span of five seasons, cementing their place among the sport’s elite and avenging last year’s title-game heartbreak.
The victory capped a 22–1 season for Tampa and snapped Adelphi’s bid for a third straight national crown. It also delivered head coach J. B. Clarke his fifth career Division II national championship and his second with the Spartans, further solidifying the program’s rapid rise on the national stage.
For Tampa, this championship was about more than a trophy. It was about redemption.
Just one year earlier, Adelphi had beaten the Spartans in overtime in the 2025 NCAA Division II final, continuing the Panthers’ long-standing dominance in the division. Coming into 2026, Adelphi was again the standard. The Panthers had rolled through the postseason behind an elite defense and standout goalkeeper Christian Tomei, seeking their tenth national title and a rare three-peat, according to coverage from the Northeast-10 Conference (https://northeast10.org/news/2026/5/22/mens-lacrosse-preview-adelphi-bids-for-ne10s-21st-lacrosse-ncaa-title.aspx).
Instead, Tampa flipped the script.
Junior attackman Tommy Ortega, who would finish with a hat trick, scored the tying goal late in regulation and then delivered the golden goal in overtime. His performance earned him Most Outstanding Player honors and turned a rematch into a signature moment in Spartans program history.
The opening minutes in Charlottesville suggested Tampa might be in full control. Midfielder Jackson Bashaw scored just 39 seconds into the contest, staking the Spartans to a 1–0 lead and momentarily quieting an Adelphi program used to controlling big stages.
Adelphi responded like a champion. The Panthers strung together a five-goal surge, unleashing their balanced attack to seize a 5–1 advantage late in the first quarter. The flurry showcased the depth that had defined their postseason run, with scoring spread across multiple players and backed by Tomei’s steady presence in goal.
For Tampa, it was an early stress test. Facing a 5–1 hole against a program chasing its third straight title, the Spartans needed a momentum shift. They got it from attackman Rex Kesselring, who scored in the final minute of the first quarter to halt Adelphi’s run and cut the deficit to 5–2. That goal, though just a single tally on the box score, proved pivotal in steadying Tampa.
The Spartans used the second quarter to slowly chip away. Behind composed offensive sets and timely finishing, Tampa added three more goals in the period. Still, Adelphi’s veteran roster, which would ultimately spread its scoring among nine different players in the game, maintained the lead at halftime.
Despite Tampa’s push, the Panthers went into the break in front, relying on ball movement, depth, and the steady play of their midfield unit to keep the Spartans chasing.
After halftime, Adelphi briefly reasserted itself. The Panthers’ offense, led by key contributors like Brett Oppenheim and Noah Gibson, produced timely goals to maintain separation. Faceoff specialist William Greaves made a particularly impactful play, converting a transition opportunity to extend Adelphi’s lead to 9–7 in the third quarter.
That goal seemed to restore the rhythm that had carried the Panthers through much of the year: win faceoffs, push transition, and let a deep offense finish chances. Tampa, however, refused to let the game drift out of reach.
The Spartans’ response was methodical. They continued to find answers on offense, leaning on Ortega, Kesselring, and a supporting cast that had powered them to a 22–1 record entering the title game. Even as the Panthers nudged the margin back to two goals multiple times, Tampa kept the scoreboard close enough to allow for a late surge.
The tension ratcheted up in the fourth quarter. Adelphi attackman Alex Titto scored with 8:57 remaining to push the Panthers’ edge back to 11–9. For a team that prided itself on elite defense and had not lost all season, a two-goal cushion with under nine minutes to go felt significant.
Instead of folding, Tampa raised its level. Against one of Division II’s stingiest defenses, the Spartans scored twice in just over a minute to tie the game at 11–11, swinging momentum firmly in their favor and setting up a frantic closing stretch.
The equalizer came courtesy of Ortega. With 5:34 left in regulation, the junior attackman dodged to his left, created a sliver of space, and ripped an unassisted left-handed shot to knot the score for the first time since the opening minutes. It was the type of individual play coaches expect from a go-to scorer, and it confirmed Ortega as the offensive engine Tampa needed in crunch time.
Still, Adelphi nearly stole the game in the final two minutes. With 1:27 remaining, Michael Durnin slipped a shot past Tampa goalkeeper Westin Schmidt, appearing to give the Panthers a dramatic late lead. Officials initiated a video review, and after further examination, ruled that Durnin’s elbow had landed in the crease before the ball crossed the line. The goal was waved off, preserving the 11–11 tie and giving Tampa a reprieve.
Neither side would score again in regulation, sending the national championship into overtime for a second straight season between these two opponents.
Adelphi opened the extra period with a chance to seize control, winning the initial faceoff and generating a high shot on goal. But Tampa won a critical hustle play, backing up the missed shot to gain possession and set up their offense.
From there, Ortega took over once more. Working from the left side, he curled into a dangerous shooting lane and uncorked another left-handed strike with 2:25 remaining in overtime. The shot beat Tomei, sealing the 12–11 victory, handing Ortega a hat trick, and igniting a celebration on the Tampa sideline.
With that goal, Ortega capped a 40-goal season and cemented his place in program lore. His three goals in the championship game earned him Most Outstanding Player honors and showcased what high-level Division II talent looks like to aspiring recruits considering schools like the University of Tampa.
While Ortega’s heroics took center stage, Tampa’s title run was built on balance across the field.
The box score underscored just how thin the margin was between champion and runner-up. Tampa outshot Adelphi 45–40, held a 15–12 advantage at the faceoff X, and collected 40 ground balls to the Panthers’ 35. Those small edges, multiplied over 60-plus minutes, were decisive in a one-goal overtime game.
The championship performance in Charlottesville was the culmination of a season in which Tampa left little doubt about its national pedigree. The Spartans finished 22–1, with their only loss coming in a 14–13 overtime setback at Anderson University in South Carolina during the regular season. That defeat became another storyline of redemption.
In the national semifinal on May 17, Tampa hosted Anderson and delivered a convincing 13–7 victory to avenge the earlier loss. Attackman Aaron Cho scored four times, Kesselring added three goals, and the Spartans controlled the game throughout, punching their ticket to a second straight national final.
For a program that only began varsity play in 2012, the trajectory has been remarkable. Tampa has now reached three NCAA championship games in five seasons, winning titles in 2022 and 2026. That sustained success mirrors the university’s broader profile as a Division II power across multiple sports, particularly baseball, which has long been a national name (https://www.ut.edu/news-and-utampa-life/2026/men-s-lacrosse-wins-ncaa-div--ii-national-championship).
At the center of Tampa’s rise is head coach J. B. Clarke. Before arriving at Tampa, Clarke built a powerhouse at Limestone College, where he captured three NCAA Division II national championships. With the Spartans, he has now added two more titles, bringing his career total to five.
That track record matters for recruits, families, and club coaches who see coaching stability and proven development as critical factors in choosing a program. Clarke’s ability to consistently build national-title contenders across different campuses shows that Tampa’s success is not a fluke but part of a well-established model.
The setting added an extra layer of meaning to Tampa’s win. Scott Stadium, on the campus of the University of Virginia, served as the host venue for all three NCAA men’s lacrosse championship games in 2026. According to the NCAA’s announcement, this marked the first time since 2002 that the Division II title game had been played on a true campus site rather than a neutral NFL or large pro venue (https://ncaaorg.sidearmsports.com/news/2025/5/24/media-center-virginia-named-host-of-2026-ncaa-mens-lacrosse-championships.aspx).
An announced crowd of 13,802 watched the Division II final, including a sizable group that traveled from Florida. For Tampa, winning in an ACC football stadium on a historic lacrosse campus underscored the significance of the moment. For Division II men’s lacrosse as a whole, the exposure and atmosphere helped highlight the sport’s growth beyond its traditional geographic footprint.
Adelphi has long been one of the cornerstones of Division II men’s lacrosse. The Panthers entered the 2026 final with nine national titles and a chance to extend the Northeast-10 Conference’s already-robust history of national dominance in the sport. According to league coverage, the NE10 had captured 20 previous men’s lacrosse national championships prior to 2026 (https://northeast10.org/news/2026/5/22/mens-lacrosse-preview-adelphi-bids-for-ne10s-21st-lacrosse-ncaa-title.aspx).
Tampa’s overtime win over the Panthers underscores a notable shift: traditional Northeast powers are now regularly being challenged by emerging programs from the Southeast and other regions. The Spartans’ rise, coupled with the growth of lacrosse in states like Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, highlights a broader nationalization of the sport.
For recruits and families, that parity means more high-quality options. Programs like Tampa can offer warm-weather campuses, strong academic environments, and legitimate championship aspirations without requiring athletes to remain in traditional lacrosse hotbeds.
For high school and club lacrosse players evaluating their options, Tampa’s journey provides several key takeaways about building a college list and understanding fit.
Tampa’s back-to-back appearances in the national final and two titles since 2022 remind athletes that Division II lacrosse can feel every bit as high-level and intense as many Division I settings. The resources, coaching quality, and competition are strong, with the added benefit that student-athletes may find a more balanced lifestyle and more immediate opportunities to see the field.
If you are exploring programs similar to Tampa, it can be helpful to survey multiple schools in a region or division. Pathley’s College Directory allows you to browse programs nationwide, explore basic details, and start building a shortlist of schools that match your academic and athletic goals.
Clarke’s five national championships highlight just how important coaching stability and development are for long-term success. When evaluating potential programs, recruits should look at:
Pathley’s Analyze Team Roster tool can help families study a roster over multiple years, understand positional needs, and see where a recruit might realistically fit into a given program’s future depth chart.
Tampa’s success is part of the broader rise of lacrosse in non-traditional areas. For players from the Southeast, Midwest, or West, this means you can find strong programs closer to home or in climates and regions that match your preferences. At the same time, Northeast athletes may find appealing new destinations at schools like the University of South Florida or Tampa that combine competitive lacrosse with distinctive campuses.
To explore more options in the sport, visit Pathley’s dedicated Lacrosse Pathley Hub, where you can compare programs, view ranking lists, and discover showcases and camps aligned with your position and level.
While Tampa’s national title understandably grabs the headlines, recruits often want to consider multiple schools in a similar geographic or competitive range. In the Tampa area, another major institution worth exploring is the University of South Florida. USF offers a large public research campus environment in the same city, with different academic offerings, campus culture, and potential athletic pathways.
Using tools like the College Fit Snapshot, prospects can run side-by-side evaluations of schools such as the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida, comparing academic fit, campus environment, and overall match in a concise, visual format.
Stories like Tampa’s overtime win over Adelphi capture why college sports are so compelling: long-term development, second chances after heartbreak, and the chance for programs outside traditional power bases to rise to the top. For recruits, the challenge is figuring out where you could write your own version of that story.
Pathley is built to make that process clearer and more efficient. With tools such as:
you can go from overwhelmed to focused in just a few sessions. If you want conversational guidance and custom ideas, you can also chat directly with Pathley’s AI assistant at https://app.pathley.ai/ to refine your target list and recruiting plan.
Whether you aspire to compete for national titles at a place like the University of Tampa or simply want a strong academic and athletic fit, using structured tools and curated information can help you make smarter choices and put yourself in position for your own overtime moments.
As the celebrations die down in Charlottesville and back home in Florida, Tampa’s 2026 NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse championship will be remembered for multiple reasons: a second national title in a short window, a revenge win over a dynasty program, and a defining performance by players like Tommy Ortega and Rex Kesselring.
It will also stand as a marker of how far the program has come since starting varsity play in 2012, and how quickly a clear vision, elite coaching, and disciplined recruiting can vault a school into the national spotlight. For athletes and families planning their recruiting journeys, Tampa’s path is a powerful reminder that fit, development, and sustained culture often matter more than labels alone.
And for Division II men’s lacrosse as a whole, the Spartans’ overtime comeback against an established Northeast power at a historic campus venue signals an era where talent, not just tradition, will decide who raises the trophy each May.
