What Is 2015 ACC Men's Lacrosse Championship

Overview

The 2015 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men's Lacrosse Championship was the 32nd edition of the tournament, featuring the top four teams from the regular season standings. Held from May 1–3, 2015, the event marked the third year of the ACC's current four-team playoff format following league expansion.

Hosted at PPL Park, now known as Talen Energy Stadium, the tournament brought together Notre Dame, North Carolina, Duke, and Maryland. The championship game concluded with Notre Dame defeating Maryland 11-10 in overtime, securing their first-ever ACC title in men's lacrosse.

• Notre Dame claimed its first ACC championship with an 11-10 overtime victory over Maryland, marking a historic achievement for the program in its second season in the conference.
• The final was held on May 3, 2015 at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, a neutral site that has hosted multiple ACC lacrosse championships.
• Four teams qualified for the tournament: Notre Dame (seeded 1st), Maryland (2nd), Duke (3rd), and North Carolina (4th), based on regular-season performance.
• Notre Dame entered as the top seed after finishing the regular season with a 6-1 conference record, including a 10-9 win over Maryland in the final week.
• The tournament champion received the ACC's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship, a crucial advantage for postseason qualification.

How It Works

The ACC Men's Lacrosse Championship follows a single-elimination format with semifinals on the first day and the final on the third. Teams are seeded based on regular-season conference records, with tiebreakers applied when necessary.

• Format: The tournament uses a four-team, single-elimination bracket. The top seed plays the fourth seed, and the second plays the third in the semifinals.
• Seeding: Determined by regular-season conference win-loss records. Head-to-head results serve as the primary tiebreaker for seeding.
• Hosting: PPL Park hosted the event from 2013 to 2016. The site was chosen for its central location and professional stadium facilities.
• Championship game: Played on the final day, the winner receives the ACC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, regardless of at-large consideration.
• OT rules: If tied after regulation, teams play sudden-victory overtime periods. The 2015 final ended in the first OT when Matt Sedgwick scored for Notre Dame.
• Eligibility: Only ACC member schools compete. In 2015, the conference included Notre Dame, Maryland, North Carolina, Duke, and Syracuse (which did not qualify that year).

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2015 ACC Men's Lacrosse Championship results and team performances:

The semifinals saw Notre Dame defeat North Carolina 13-10 and Maryland edge past Duke 13-10. Maryland entered the final as defending champions, having won the 2014 title. However, Notre Dame’s strong defense and timely scoring in overtime secured their first conference title. The close scores across all games highlighted the competitive balance within the ACC that year, with all three matchups decided by three goals or fewer.

Why It Matters

The 2015 ACC Men's Lacrosse Championship had significant implications for team legacies, NCAA Tournament seeding, and the evolving landscape of collegiate lacrosse. Notre Dame’s victory signaled their arrival as a national contender, while Maryland’s narrow loss ended their title defense.

• Notre Dame earned its first ACC title in just its second season in the conference, validating their transition from independent to power-conference status.
• The win secured an automatic NCAA bid, giving Notre Dame a guaranteed spot in the national tournament regardless of at-large committee decisions.
• Maryland remained a top national team despite the loss, earning a high seed in the NCAA Tournament due to their strong season record.
• The close final underscored the ACC’s lacrosse strength, reinforcing its reputation as one of the premier conferences in the sport.
• PPL Park proved a successful neutral site, drawing strong attendance and providing a professional atmosphere for the championship weekend.
• The tournament highlighted emerging talent, including Matt Sedgwick and Landon Carr, who played pivotal roles in Notre Dame’s championship run.

The 2015 championship exemplified the growing competitiveness of ACC lacrosse, with multiple teams capable of winning. It also marked a shift in power, as Notre Dame joined traditional powers like Maryland and Duke at the top of the conference hierarchy.