The stage is set once again. On Sunday afternoon at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, two of the premier programs in DeeThreeLax will battle for the ultimate prize as RIT and Tufts meet in the NCAA DeeThreeLax National Championship Game. And honestly, could we have asked for a better matchup?

These two teams are no strangers to one another on the biggest stage. Just two years ago, the Jumbos and Tigers faced off in the 2024 National Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field, where Tufts walked away with an 18-14 win and another national title. Now, RIT gets its shot at redemption while Tufts looks to continue building what is becoming one of the great dynasties in DeeThreeLax history.

For Tufts, history is on the line as the Jumbos look to complete the threepeat and capture a third straight national championship. For RIT, it’s another opportunity to prove why you can never count out a Jake Coon coached Tigers squad when May rolls around.

RIT Tigers (19-4)

Liberty League Tournament Champions

At one point this season, many around DeeThreeLax questioned whether this was truly an “RIT year.” Four losses felt unusual for a Tigers team that has consistently been one of the gold standards in the sport. Earlier in the season, RIT dropped two straight Liberty League games and looked vulnerable. But if we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s this  counting out RIT in May is usually a mistake.

The Tigers found themselves late in the season and have looked excellent ever since, rattling off eight straight wins heading into Championship Weekend. Their NCAA Tournament run has been nothing short of impressive, taking down Salisbury, Babson, and Bowdoin to punch their ticket back to the title game.

The offense is loaded with firepower. Erich Acton (92 pts) and Ryan Sanders (91 pts) have been one of the best offensive duos in the country all season long, while Ethan Harkins (58 pts), David Charney (47 pts), Tyson Allison (47 pts), and Ryan Bullock (42 pts) give RIT scoring depth all over the field.

Defensively, the Tigers bring toughness and physicality with players like Joe Holenstein (35 CTs, 86 GBs, 5 pts), Alexander Chairs (22 CTs, 67 GBs, 1 pt), and Jamie Hunt (29 CTs, 14 GBs) leading the way. The midfield unit featuring Adam Wong (18 CTs, 32 GBs, 8 pts) and Logan Fletcher (30 CTs, 47 GBs, 5 pts) has also played a huge role during this tournament run. In net, veteran goalie Alex Zborowski has once again stepped up in the biggest moments. Zborowski enters the championship game with 230 saves, a 53% save percentage, and a 9.45 goals against average. His experience and composure in big games could be one of the biggest factors Sunday afternoon.

Tufts Jumbos (21-1)

NESCAC Tournament Champions

Tufts enters Championship Weekend once again looking like the team to beat. The reigning back-to-back national champions have spent most of the 2026 season ranked No. 1 in the country and now sit one win away from completing a historic threepeat. 

The Jumbos’ only loss this season came during the regular season against Bowdoin, but outside of that game, Tufts has looked dominant from start to finish. They now ride a seven-game winning streak into the championship game after defeating Middlebury, York, and Wesleyan during their NCAA Tournament run.

And offensively? This group is terrifying.

Jack Regnery (117 pts) has once again cemented himself in DeeThreeLax winning player of the year this season and with Brooks Hauser (100 pts) and Chase Beyer (87 pts) create arguably the best offensive trio in the country. Add in Will Emsing (75 pts), Garrett Kelly (58 pts), and Jackson Redd (45 pts), and the Jumbos can hurt teams from literally every angle.

Defensively, Tufts continues to excel with athleticism and transition play led by Jack Donovan (30 CTs, 27 GBs, 3 pts), Logan Lee (26 CTs, 32 GBs, 3 pts), Davis Owens (23 CTs, 56 GBs, 16 pts), and William Bonner (22 CTs, 30 GBs, 4 pts). In goal, Jack Old has been outstanding throughout the year, posting 197 saves, a 57% save percentage, and an impressive 8.77 goals against average heading into Sunday’s title game.

DeeThreeLax Take

This feels like the perfect ending to the 2026 DeeThreeLax season. You have the reigning dynasty in Tufts trying to complete a threepeat against one of the sport’s premier programs in RIT looking to avenge a championship loss from two years ago. Both teams are loaded offensively, both have strong goaltending, and both have proven throughout this tournament that they can win games in multiple ways.

I think Tufts comes in as the slight favorite simply because of their depth and ability to overwhelm teams offensively for four quarters, but RIT has been playing with a different level of confidence during this NCAA Tournament run. The Tigers have already knocked off Salisbury, Babson, and Bowdoin, three teams many believed could win the national title themselves.

At this point, anything can happen. Expect an electric atmosphere at Scott Stadium, a ton of goals, momentum swings, and a game that feels worthy of the national championship stage. One thing is certain, Sunday afternoon is going to be an absolute showcase for DeeThreeLax.