Rumson’s Ryan Croddick Wins National Title at Princeton, Named Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 NCAA Tournament

By Rich Chrampanis

RUMSON – Standing in the cage in college lacrosse has shots coming fast and furious.  For Rumson’s Ryan Croddick, much like the shots he faced in the NCAA Tournament, the journey of Princeton University’s national championship was a blur.  

Just days removed from helping the Tigers capture the NCAA men’s lacrosse national title, the 2021 Rumson-Fair Haven graduate admitted it still feels like there’s another game on the schedule.  

“It hadn’t really sunk in yet,” Croddick said. “We just kept winning. We were playing really good lacrosse, and it kind of seemed like it was never going to end.”

Croddick, the Princeton goalie, delivered a historic championship weekend in Charlottesville. He totaled 20 saves in the national semifinal against Duke before following it with 13 saves in the title game against Notre Dame, earning Most Outstanding Player honors as Princeton captured the NCAA championship. The Rumson native also shared the prestigious Kelly Award, given to the nation’s top goalie, while adding first team All-American honors to an unforgettable senior season.

A save percentage of 50 percent is considered the standard for a Division I lacrosse goalie.  In Princeton’s 14-7 win over Duke, his save percentage was 74 percent and the 20 stops were the highest in a Final Four game in 31 years. 

“The first shot of that game, I could sort of just feel it,” Croddick said of the semifinal performance. “You’re just a little more locked in. You’re just feeling hot. When you’re hot, you’re hot.”

That confidence carried through championship weekend. After Princeton fell behind 3-0 early in the national title game, panic never entered the equation. Instead, the Tigers responded with an astonishing 11-goal run that flipped the game entirely.

“We knew not to freak out,” Croddick said. “It was definitely a big punch in the face, but we knew if we just stayed the course and played our game, we would come out on top.”

Croddick played a major role in sealing the title, not only with his 13 stops but with an assist off a scramble play that shifted momentum.

“There was like a 30-second ground ball, just bodies flying,” Croddick recalled. “It got to me, someone was in my face, and I kind of just sent it upfield.”

The play became another signature moment in a tournament filled with them.

Yet Croddick’s path to becoming a national champion wasn’t immediate.

In an era dominated by transfer portal movement, Croddick stayed patient at Princeton, even after spending years waiting for his opportunity behind another highly recruited goalie.

“I knew going into it I wouldn’t start my first (couple of) years,” Croddick said. “But I think that experience helped me mentally prepare for what I was about to do when I got my chance.”

He credits Princeton head coach Matt Madalon for building a culture rooted in trust and player development rather than constantly searching for outside help through transfers.

“There’s not a grad transfer goalie coming in to jump in front of me,” Croddick said. “The trust between all the guys is super special.”

While the championship itself was surreal, one of Croddick’s favorite memories came the night before the title game.

At dinner in the team hotel, surrounded by teammates, coaches and staff, he paused to appreciate the moment.

“Everyone was just smiling ear to ear,” Croddick said. “Just enjoying each other’s company. It made me realize how special this team really is.”

The championship also carried a deeper meaning.

Croddick’s father John battles ALS, a disease that has profoundly impacted the family. Though unable to attend the national championship game in person, he remained front and center in the celebration back home in Rumson.

“Just to still have that connection with my dad, even though he’s battling the disease, is super special,” Croddick said. “I’m just glad I can still share these moments with him.”

Once Croddick returned home, father and son immediately sat down to rewatch the championship game together — though the film session quickly turned familiar.

“Big hug, big fist bump,” Croddick said with a laugh. “But he was also giving me little nitpicky things to work on.”

Growing up across the street from the high school, he immersed himself in the RFH lacrosse culture from an early age.

“I live in one of the coolest places in the world,” Croddick said. “This area is super deeply connected to lacrosse. This town, this area has given me so much, and I just love representing Rumson and the Shore Conference.”

It’s a golden era of New Jersey lacrosse.  Tewaarton Award winners CJ Kirst (Cornell) and Shawn Lyght (Notre Dame) are two products of the Garden State and now Croddick stands on top of the lacrosse world with them as the MVP of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

“It’s one of the best states for lacrosse, for sure,” he said. “There’s just so many kids doing such great things at the college and high school levels.”

It was a whirlwind weekend that saw another major life event happen less than 24 hours after Croddick’s championship moment.  Princeton loaded up the bus in Charlottesville, Virginia. on Monday evening and arrived back on campus just after midnight.  That morning, Croddick and his fellow senior teammates walked across the stage at Princeton graduation with the national championship trophy in tow.

Croddick has a job lined up in New York City with BTIG but before that he’s going to get an opportunity to play in the Premiere Lacrosse League (PLL). The Denver Outlaws picked him up off waivers and traded him to the California Redwoods in exchange for a first round pick. It’s possible that Croddick could make his pro lacrosse debut as soon as this weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.  

“There are some things happening,” he said. “Hopefully there’s a future in the PLL.”

The article originally appeared in the June 4 – 10, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.