G.O.A.T. Championship
The Greatest of All Time. The debate has gone and on for yearsaboutwhich team or which school deserves to be known simply as the G.O.A.T. Now, Lax.com and our panel of experts want to settle the debate once and for all with the "2020 GOAT Bracket". Featuring schools and teams from all divisions and across 50 yearsof history, the Lax.com panel needs your help in deciding on which team will hold the recognition of the greatestof all time.
Lax.com GOAT Panel
Chip Mayer, UNC Lacrosse
Casey Vock, 3d Lacrosse
Chris Bates, PLL Archers
Kevin Leveille, Umass Lacrosse, MLL All-Star
Mark Millon, USL Hall of Fame
Liam Banks, LB3 and Syracuse Lacrosse
Matt Palumb, NCAA official and Syracuse Lacrosse
Sam Carpenter, Team 91 and Middlebury Lacrosse
Mike Barrett, Lax.com Content Manager
How to Get Involved
The lax.com GOAT Bracket can be found across all our social media channels. To participate, look on our Instagram and Facebook stories for the matches each day and vote on which team you think deserves to move on. Not sure which team is better or want to learn more about them? Take a look at our panels breakdown of each team and its matchup below!
Championship Game
#6 2018 Yale vs #1 1990 Syracuse
2018 Yale
Coach: Andy Shay
Record: 17-3
After ripping through the Ivy League with a 7-0 record, the 2018 Yale Bulldogs seemed primed to take the postseason by storm in search of its first National Title. However, a loss to Cornell dropped the Bulldogs to the number three seed in the tournament, putting them on a collision course with the Albany Great Danes in the national semi-finals. Led by 2018 Tewaaraton winner Ben Reeves, the Elis would roll past the second-seeded Great Danes 20-11 to set up a showdown with the number four seed Duke Blue Devils. Using a four-goal performance from championship weekend MVP Matt Gaudet and nine saves from freshman goaltender Jack Starr, the Bulldogs defeated the Blue Devils 13-11 to win their first National Championship.
1990 Syracuse
Coach: Roy Simmons Jr
Record: 13-0
The 1990 Syracuse Orange is arguably the most talented college lacrosse team ever assembled and is considered the greatest Syracuse team of all time. The 1990 team produced seven All-Americans, led by seniors Paul and Gary Gait. The Orange went undefeated in that season, completing a streak of three straight national titles under coach Roy Simmons Jr, going 42-1 during the period. The Orange average margin of victory over the course of the season was ten goals, culminating in a 21-9 drubbing of Loyola in the National Championship game. However, the teams' championship trophy from that season was later vacated due to a two-year investigation completed in 1995 found that Nancy Simmons, the wife of head coach Roy Simmons Jr., co-signed a car loan with Paul Gait's wife, Katherine. The NCAA ruled that Gait was ineligible during that season, later forcing the Orange to return the ’90 Championship Trophy. However the trophy has since gone missing, a mystery at the heart of the 2015 documentary The Lost Trophy, which tells the story of the 1990 team and was produced by former Syracuse players Fred Cambria and Brett Jefferson.
