What Is a Lacrosse Triple Double?
College lacrosse reports use triple double in different ways. See the actual categories, the 10-plus interpretation and a playful two-apiece example.
A lacrosse triple double is used informally to describe production in three statistical categories—but its meaning depends on the report. In the basketball sense, it means reaching double figures—at least 10—in three categories in one game. A lacrosse recap can also use “double” playfully to mean two instead.
The practical answer: check the actual stat line before interpreting the label. Neither the categories nor the threshold should be assumed.
Two different uses in college lacrosse
SUNY Morrisville used the double-figure interpretation in an April 24, 2023, women’s field lacrosse report. Cara Walker had 14 draw controls, 10 ground balls and nine caused turnovers against LaRoche. The school described her as “nearly missing a triple double.” In that usage, a tenth caused turnover would have completed the three double-digit totals—not another goal or assist. Morrisville’s report also listed her one goal and three assists.
Princeton used a different, explicitly playful interpretation in men’s field lacrosse. In its April 11, 2026, recap of a 20–8 win over Penn, the school called Cooper Mueller’s two caused turnovers, two ground balls and two assists a “triple double” of sorts, noting that he also played basketball. That was three categories with two apiece, not three double-digit totals. Princeton’s recap
These examples explain why “10 goals, 10 assists and 10 ground balls” cannot be presented as the only meaning. It is a possible basketball-style adaptation, but it does not describe either school’s usage.
Why goals, assists and points are a trap
In NCAA field lacrosse, an individual’s scoring points are goals plus assists. They do not count a third type of scoring action. For a concrete example, Benedictine’s April 12, 2022, recap credited Thomas Tillett with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points. Benedictine’s game report
That arithmetic matters when adapting the triple-double idea:
| Illustrative single-game line | How to interpret it |
|---|---|
| 10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points | Two scoring contributions plus their sum; the points add no separate achievement. |
| 10 goals, 10 assists, 10 ground balls | Three categories meeting a stated 10-plus threshold. |
| 10 draw controls, 10 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers | A three-category, 10-plus line using the categories in Morrisville’s near-miss description. |
These are hypothetical examples, not claimed records. For the underlying scoring distinctions, see how lacrosse scoring stats are counted.
How to label one accurately
A useful record-book entry should state the player, opponent, date, lacrosse code, competition, three categories and threshold. It should also say whether the totals cover one game, a season or a career.
For a single-game claim, all three totals must belong to that game. For a season or career comparison, include games played and identify whether postseason games count. Keep NCAA men’s field, NCAA women’s field, professional field and box lacrosse separately labeled.