Baltimore – The Loyola University Maryland's women's lacrosse team learned Sunday night they will be heading to Navy for the opening rounds in the 2026 NCAA Championships, as sixth-seeded Navy, will host the first two rounds. 

The Greyhounds will square off against Syracuse University in the first round on Friday, May 8, at 7:00 PM at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy will host UMass in the first round game at 3:00 pm, with the winners facing off on Sunday at noon.

Loyola enters the NCAA Tournament with a 12-7 record, winners of 8 of their last 11 games, finishing third in the Patriot League during the regular season, before falling to Army in the Patriot League Semifinals. Syracuse enters with a 13-5 record, reaching the ACC Semifinals, losing to North Carolina.

This will be the program's 27th NCAA appearance, 13th under Head Coach Jen Adams and eighth in a row (not including the non-contested 2020 Championships). Last year, Loyola faced Stony Brook in the first round, where they fell 11-8. 

Navy enters the NCAA Championships with a 18-1 record and were winners of the Patriot League Regular season and Postseason Championships, with their lone loss coming to Loyola. UMass enters the NCAA Championships with a 16-2 record, winners of the MAC Regular Season and Postseason Championships. Loyola and Syracuse faced off earlier this season in Syracuse, where the Orange won 15-7.