"We’ve tried to recruit a certain kind of kid up here, a special brand of kid, a unique kind of kid. Not better or worse than anybody else in the Ivy League, but I think you combine a lot of different things up here to have success that is measured in Ivy League championships," he said. "We’ve had some great fortune, we’ve had some great kids, we’ve lucked through with a lack of injuries some years. I think everything’s just kind of held its course. But I would say that the fundamental issues that we try to deal with each day with these guys is camaraderie and work ethic. If we can build on those in the offseason, build a great work ethic and get these guys to buy into what our program wants to do, we’re going to have success. We really try to put our team and program in front of any individual goals, and I think over the years, our guys have bought into that."

Cornell can clinch sole possession of the championship with a victory over the Bears on Saturday. But even if the Big Red loses, the team seems to be a lock for the NCAA tournament.

Cornell would love a return to the tournament after exiting in the first round at home to Notre Dame last season.

"I will say that has been a motivating factor through fall, winter and early spring," Tambroni said. "We traveled so far in 2007 and had a taste of what it was like to be one of the last four teams playing college lacrosse, and then in 2008, we just felt like we failed to realize the potential of our team based on a number of different factors. So I know this team is not looking ahead to that point right now, but I know it’s been a motivating factor throughout the course of the season. I think these guys have worked very hard for a chance to get back to that place again in the hopes that we’ll make more of opportunities if we have the opportunity to be back in the playoffs."