University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Rise to No. 1 for First Time in Program History
03/30/2026 | Men's Lacrosse
Richmond, Va. – For the first time in its 13-season history, the University of Richmond men's lacrosse team is ranked No. 1 in the country.
Inside Lacrosse released its media poll Monday morning, giving the Spiders the top spot with 439 points and 21 of the 22 possible first-place votes. North Carolina received the remaining first-place vote. Richmond also holds the No. 1 ranking in the USA Lacrosse Magazine poll.
Richmond is the first non-Ivy, ACC, or Big Ten program to lead the Inside Lacrosse poll since Week 6 of the 2024 season, when Army was No. 1.
The milestone follows a program-best 9–0 start to the season, a streak that ties the longest win run in program history and includes five victories over ranked or receiving-votes opponents.
The accomplishment represents the first time any University of Richmond team has held a No. 1 ranking at the highest possible level of collegiate competition.
Richmond has been dominant through its first nine games, outscoring opponents 150–68—an average margin of victory exceeding nine goals per game. Key wins include an 8–7 road victory over defending national champion No. 5 Cornell, an 18–12 home win against in-state rival No. 13 Virginia, and a 14–10 home triumph over No. 13 Georgetown. The Spiders have now won 19 of their last 20 games, with the only loss in that span coming against Cornell in the 2025 NCAA Quarterfinals. Fans have responded to Richmond's continued success, with the Spiders averaging over 2,000 fans per game at Robins Stadium. Richmond, along with Sacred Heart, are the last two remaining undefeated teams in the country.
Richmond also has the second-most players named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, which recognizes the nation's top lacrosse player. The Spiders are tied with Cornell, Princeton, and Ohio State with five selections: four All-American senior captains—attackman Aidan O'Neil, defenseman Hunter Smith, short-stick defensive midfielder Jack Pilling, and midfielder Joe Sheridan—along with goalie Connor Knight. Only Syracuse has more, with six players. Last week, Inside Lacrosse ranked O'Neil as the second-most likely recipient of the sport's highest honor.
Richmond travels to Chicago on Saturday to face No. 4/5 Notre Dame during Lacrosse Day in Chicago, hosted by Northwestern. The game is set for a 12:30 p.m. ET start and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra. The Spiders and Fighting Irish have met three times previously (2018, 2019, 2020), with Richmond seeking to even the all-time series record at 1–2.
