Left No Doubt: Keiser Holds on to NAIA National Championship

DECATUR, Ala. - Keiser completed an unbeaten season and secured its fourth consecutive national championship with a 20-10 win over Madonna in the title game of the 2026 NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Championship Tournament on Saturday at Jack Allen Complex in Decatur, Ala.

The No. 2 seed finished 15-0, while No. 1 seed Madonna closed its season at 20-2.

The result also extended the Appalachian Athletic Conference's run to nine straight national titles. Reinhardt won five straight (2017-22; no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19), and Keiser has won the last four (2023-26).

The Seahawks established the tone early, scoring seven times in the first quarter for a 7-3 lead. Ryan Rundle opened the scoring at 13:26, and Kegan Hufford added a man-up goal less than three minutes later. After Madonna cut the margin to 2-1 on Rico Hart's goal, Keiser answered with another surge. Kyle Davis pushed the lead to 4-1, AJ Badik made it 6-2 late in the quarter, and Hufford scored again with 2:39 left to cap the opening run.

Madonna made its strongest push in the second quarter. Badik's goal stretched Keiser's advantage to 8-3, but the Crusaders responded by trimming the deficit to 9-8. Owen Barker scored at 12:31, Cooper Regimbal brought Madonna within two at 2:35, and Spencer Guppy made it a one-goal game with 1:49 remaining in the half. Keiser prevented the momentum from fully shifting when Badik scored with 43 seconds left, sending the Seahawks into halftime ahead 10-8.

That late first-half answer became a turning point. Keiser opened separation again in the third quarter, beginning with Rundle's goal at 8:50. Badik scored again to make it 12-8, then Marek Albiero converted on a man-up chance at 4:37 and added another goal at 2:31 for a 14-8 lead. Madonna got one back on Ryan Davis' goal at the buzzer, but Keiser controlled the final quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 6-1.

Badik and Hufford led a balanced Keiser attack with five goals apiece. Albiero scored four goals, including three man-up finishes, and Rundle added three goals and an assist. Davis contributed two goals and two assists, while JP Prather recorded three assists. Keiser finished with advantages in shots, 50-40, ground balls, 47-31, and extra-man production, scoring four power-play goals while Madonna had none. The faceoff battle was nearly even, with Keiser winning 17 and Madonna 16.

Lucas Green played all 60 minutes in goal for Keiser and made 10 saves while allowing 10 goals. Madonna's Jonathan Bendfeldt also went the distance and faced heavy pressure throughout, recording 13 saves against 50 shots. Albiero opened the fourth quarter with a goal, Rundle added another man-up score at 10:37, and Badik and Hufford followed with late goals before Albiero closed the scoring on a man-up finish with 5:55 left, sealing Keiser's 20-10 championship win.