Men’s lacrosse secures first NCAA Tournament win in program history

The Spiders rushed the field, a sea of red jerseys a stark contrast to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s Dorrance Field. Head Coach Dan Chemotti looked over his team with teary eyes. 

History had just been made. 

Since the beginning of the program in 2014, the University of Richmond’s men’s lacrosse has made six appearances in the NCAA tournament, but the 13-10 victory over eighth seed UNC on Saturday, May 10 marked the first time the Spiders moved to the second round. 

Despite a regular season of facing giants, facing the Rams was no easy feat. It was a grim beginning of the contest for Richmond, which faced major challenges in the first quarter. The Spiders persisted in looking for a goal in the opening minutes, but both of their attempts were saved. 

The Rams had a stumbling start, picking up two turnovers off the bat. However, UNC quickly recovered, securing the first goal of the contest a little over three minutes in. While the Rams were recovering, Richmond was flailing, not managing a shot for the rest of the quarter and tallying zero faceoffs. 

Both sides struggled against each other for the next seven minutes as a scoring drought struck the field. Richmond suffered three failed clear attempts in a row as it had to plant its feet in its defense. 

The saving grace for UR was the Rams’ inability to maintain the ball, picking up seven turnovers. However, it didn’t stop UNC from racking up two goals within 30 seconds of each other in the last five minutes of the quarter. The buzzer condemned Richmond to an empty scoreboard. 

While both teams slung early shots at the net in the second quarter, UNC once again prevailed, making the score 4-0 with 10 minutes on the clock. The Rams’ dominance was about to crumble away as sophomore attacker Lucas Littlejohn closed in, finding his mark and finally securing a Richmond goal. 

Time ticked by and the pressure of the tournament set in. The Rams and Spiders swapped goals one more time before the break. 

“Once we took a deep breath and focused on our execution, I think the tide started to turn a little bit,” Chemotti said in a postgame press conference.

A new reign began and the Spiders strutted back on the field: they weren’t even close to being finished. Senior attacker Lukas Olsson sparked a 3-0 run that evened the score within three minutes of the third quarter opening. 

A penalty for unnecessary roughness on Richmond four minutes later led to a man-up goal for the Rams. The contest was locked in back-and-forth play for the rest of the quarter, the score 9-9 as the final period began. 

Everything came down to this moment, 15 minutes of play would be sending a team home. Richmond was determined to send UNC packing. The Rams picked up its first and last goal of the quarter with 10 minutes left. The Spiders finished strong, tallying a 4-0 run that demolished any hopes for a UNC victory. 

Basking in the win, Richmond players mobbed each other in a huddle before hugging cheering friends and family over the rails of the stands. Watching over it all, Chemotti stood alone on the field. The only coach the Spiders have ever had, his years of dedication prevailed. 

“It’s emotional, just to be honest,” Chemotti said. “Coach [Paul] Richards and I have done this together for the longest time, you know when there was nothing. I remember, even in year one, I took my wife to Dick’s [Sporting Goods] to buy balls because we were over budget and couldn’t afford balls anymore.”

Now, 11 years later, he’s led his team to a victory on the biggest stage in college lacrosse. 

Littlejohn led the Spiders with four goals, followed by four Spiders who each scored two goals. On the other side of the field, graduate goalkeeper Zach Vigue picked up 12 saves. 

The Spiders will have a week to recover before facing the tournament favorite, Cornell University, on May 17 in Hempstead, N.Y. This matchup offers Richmond redemption from a heartbreaking 12-11 loss on March 2. 

Besides Cornell’s one loss, a 13-12 overtime defeat by No. 8 Pennsylvania State University on March 8, the Spiders gave the Big Red the most trouble on the field this season. 

Will the Spiders survive another round or will they be sent packing? It all comes down to this moment. 

Contact sports editor Abigail Finney at abigail.finney@richmond.edu.