Syracuse Lacrosse Upset by Harvard After Reaching No. 1 Ranking

The Orange fell 13-12 in a back-and-forth battle against the Crimson in snowy conditions.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Syracuse lacrosse's first game since being ranked No. 1 in the country ended in a stunning 13-12 upset loss to No. 14/13 Harvard. The Orange had just knocked off then-No. 1 Maryland the previous week, but were unable to maintain their momentum, as the Crimson scored the final three goals to pull off the victory in a back-and-forth affair mirrored from last year's matchups between the two teams.

Why it matters

This loss serves as a reminder that reaching the top ranking is just the beginning, as Syracuse must now defend their position at the summit of college lacrosse. The defeat also highlights the parity in the sport, as any highly ranked team can fall to a lower-ranked opponent on a given day.

The details

In a game played in snowy conditions, Syracuse and Harvard traded goals throughout, with the score tied 10-10 late in the fourth quarter. However, the Crimson scored the final three goals to pull off the upset victory over the newly minted No. 1 team in the country.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Syracuse had just been ranked No. 1 in the country the previous week.

The players

Syracuse Lacrosse

The men's lacrosse team of Syracuse University, which had just risen to the No. 1 ranking in the country prior to this game.

Harvard

The men's lacrosse team of Harvard University, which was ranked No. 14/13 heading into the game against the top-ranked Orange.

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What’s next

Syracuse will look to bounce back from this upset loss when they take on another ranked opponent, No. 8 Duke, next weekend.

The takeaway

This game serves as a reminder that even the top-ranked teams in college lacrosse can be upset on any given day, highlighting the parity and competitiveness of the sport at the highest level.