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Sunday Lax Links


-Lacrosse Emoji May Finally Arrive

-Help this Low Poverty NC School Get Access to Lacrosse

-The Decision to Add Helmets in WLax Not Crystal Clear

-The Title IX Implications of Kent State WLax

-NLL Strives for Financial Growth

-Inaugural WLax Pac12 Season Validates Sports Growth

-Why the WPLL?

-Connecticut NLL Owner Bullish on New York Growth

-Saved By the Stick 

-57 Ways US Lacrosse Grew the Game in 2017

Newbury College (D3 MA) Adds Men's Lacrosse

BROOKLINE, Mass. - Newbury College is pleased to announce that it will add men’s lacrosse to its athletics lineup in the New England Collegiate Conference, beginning with the spring 2019 season. The College recently approved adding the sport to its intercollegiate athletics program, which currently sponsors 16 intercollegiate sport programs; eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams. 


According to CollegeCross.com, 27 institutions added a lacrosse program in 2017, including the addition of Newbury College’s women’s lacrosse team. Sixteen of the 27 started men’s lacrosse programs.

“Since we announced the addition of our women’s lacrosse program two years ago, we have experienced an increase in interest for men’s lacrosse on campus.” said Newbury College Director of Athletics Jonathan Harper. “I am pleased that Newbury continues to strengthen the Athletics program by adding a sport that is very popular in the Northeast, especially at the high school level.”

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-University of Akron has Vision for W. Lacrosse future

-New Englanders Help Grow Game in Texas

-Montana Lacrosse Poised for Growth

-Nebraska City to Begin Work on Fields to be Used for Lacrosse

-LaxWorld Shutters Stores

-New Richmond AD Talks Lacrosse

-Canada May No Longer Host U19 Championships

-MLL's Bayhawks Propose Lacrosse Stadium

-The History of Lacrosse Trading Cards





What US Lacrosse Can Learn from USA Triathlon

Earlier this week, Wagner University, a Division I school in Staten Island, NY, announced the addition of varsity Women’s Triathlon to its school’s athletic offerings. Triathlon, over the last two years, has become one of the fastest growing sports of the NCAA’s Emerging Sport offerings, which has also included the likes of EquestrianSand Volleyball, and Rugby.

But what has made a sport such as Triathlon the apple of so many athletic director’s eyes? There are likely several reasons, most significantly the NCAA now recognizes it as a women’s sport, and the addition of Women’s Triathlon can be counted towards satisfying Title IX roster equity requirements. Additionally, the cost to outfit a varsity triathlon team is relativity low, with equipment costs minimal, especially if a university has an existing pool and track facility.

But there have been other low-cost women’s sports that were at one time labeled an NCAA Emerging Sports (Archery, Badminton) but have failed to take off with NCAA institutions. So what makes Triathlon different than those sports? For one thing, the sport’s governing body, USA Triathlon, has been paying millions of dollars to schools to add the sport. In fact, below is a list of schools that have added varsity Triathlon over the last two years, each of them receiving commitments from USA Triathlon ranging from $70k-$150k (press releases linked)

Arizona State University
Belmont Abbey College
Black Hills State University
Centenary College
Concordia University Wisconsin
Colorado Mesa University
Daemen College
Davis & Elkins College
Drury University
East Tennessee State
Millikin University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
North Central College
St. Thomas Aquinas College
University of South Dakota
Southern Wesleyan University
Transylvania University
Trine University
Wagner University
University of West Alabama

Is there anything wrong with this approach? Not at all. In fact, USA Triathlon should be applauded for taking this proactive approach to growing their sport. The question is, why is US Lacrosse not taking the same approach? US Lacrosse does have grant programs, but they are mostly directed towards youth and PE programs. All noble causes, but why is there no focus on collegiate level growth? On the men’s side, especially at the Division I level, is where growth has been the most stagnant, so should there not be grants to help stimulate growth in this area? Unfortunately, at the current growth rate, all these youth players that US Lacrosse is investing in are going to grow up someday and realize that there are very few high level college roster spots or scholarships available for them.
US Lacrosse should consider fundraising for, and establishing, an endowment that annually would support grants that incentivize the addition of lacrosse as a collegiate varsity sport. Additionally, they should hire someone who’s job is not only to manage this grant program, but someone who can also meet with schools considering adding lacrosse and discuss the required costs and investments needed to support a team at the varsity level.  This person would serve a similar role that Dave Cottle served when Marquette was considering adding lacrosse, but would be a US Lacrosse employee and able to answer questions, emails, phone calls and hold meetings at a whim with any school even remotely considering adding the sport.  This person should also be proactive, and reach out to colleges that have yet to consider adding lacrosse, and educate them on why the sport would be a good fit for their institution, and how US Lacrosse can support them on the road to varsity sponsorship.

If US Lacrosse won’t take the lead in this area than perhaps it is time for someone in the lacrosse community to start their own organization. For example, a similar approach has been taken by MotorMVB, a private non-profit with the goal of creating opportunities for male volleyball players. Like USA Triathlon, MotorMVB has been focused on the collegiate growth of Men’s Volleyball, and has also distributed grants to schools willing to add varsity Men’s Volleyball.
The sport of volleyball has a drastic difference in the number of Division I schools that sponsor Women’s Volleyball (334) vs Men’s Volleyball (43). While the difference is not as drastic for lacrosse (112 teams for Women and 71 for Men) there is still a gap that many would like to see closed, and perhaps the grant-incentive approach that USA Triathlon and MotorMVB have taken could help close this gap. Here’s hoping that our sport's leadership can learn from these two programs and the successes they have had at growing their sports at the collegiate level.

Marian University (D3 WI) Adds Women's Lacrosse

FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Marian University director of athletics Jason Bartelt has announced the addition of women's lacrosse to Marian and the hiring of David Pomeroy to head the program which will begin competition during the 2018-19 academic year.


 "I am proud to announce the addition of women's lacrosse to our athletic department," commented Bartelt on the addition of women's lacrosse. "This addition provides another athletic opportunity for student-athletes looking to continue their passion for sports while achieving a higher education at Marian." Women's lacrosse becomes the 21st varsity sport at Marian University with the addition of men's lacrosse who will open their inaugural season later this year. The home opener for the men's lacrosse program is set for Thursday, March 8 when Marian welcomes Calvin to Smith Field. The addition of women's lacrosse in 2018-19 will cap off a run of four consecutive years Sabre athletics will have a varsity sport play their inaugural season; men's volleyball (2015-16), ACHA hockey (2016-17), men's lacrosse (2017-18).

 "I am very excited to be adding women's lacrosse to the lineup of Marian athletics teams," commented Marian University president Andrew Manion. "Coach Pomeroy has a strong history of getting collegiate teams started and I think he will make a great addition to our coaching staff."

Full Article

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-Lacrosse Cleat Market Outlook Through 2022

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-St. Louis Colleges Growing Due To Adding Lacrosse

-WPLL Pro Women's Lacrosse Set to Launch in 2018

-As Mercer Community College Looks to Add Lacrosse Title IX Questions Arise



Allegheny College (D3 PA) Adds Men's Lacrosse

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College Board of Trustees has authorized the addition of field hockey and men's lacrosse to the school's varsity athletic offerings.

 "We are very excited to add field hockey and men's lacrosse to Allegheny's athletic program," stated Allegheny College President Dr. James H. Mullen, Jr. "These two sports will afford opportunities for excellent student-athletes from across the country to be part of a nationally-recognized academic community, and contribute to a proud athletic tradition that extends back to the founding of the NCAA."

 Field hockey will begin play in the fall of 2019, while the inaugural season of Gator men's lacrosse will be spring of 2020. The search for a head coach for each program will begin immediately. "Men's lacrosse and field hockey have been on our radar for several years," said Portia Hoeg, Allegheny Director of Athletics and Recreation. "However, we did not have the proper resources in place to create a solid foundation for additional sports."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Help A Low Income California Middle School Get Access to Lacrosse Equipment

-Baltimore City Lacrosse Showcase Powered by US Lacrosse

-US Lacrosse Invests in Cleveland

-New Englanders Grow Lacrosse in Texas

-North Central State College (OH) Considering W. Lacrosse


Sunday Lax Links


-Oakwood High School (Ohio) To Add Lacrosse

-Minnesota School District to Add Lacrosse

-Lacrosse Growth in Wallingford, CT

-Lacrosse Grows in Guam

-Customer Engagement Helps Pro Lacrosse Grow

-MLL Files Trademark for Dallas Rattlers

-Club High School Lacrosse Faces Obstacles in Wisconsin

-US Lacrosse Growing Box Lacrosse

American Athletic Conference to Sponsor Women's Lacrosse, Big East Responds with Realignment

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced the addition of women’s lacrosse as the Conference’s 22nd sport beginning in 2019. The six-team league will be comprised of current conference members University of Cincinnati, University of
Connecticut, East Carolina University and Temple University, as well as the University of Florida and Vanderbilt University as affiliate members.

The American becomes the 16th Division I conference to sponsor women’s lacrosse. Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, Florida and Vanderbilt are current members of the Big East Conference in women’s lacrosse, while ECU begins its first season of intercollegiate competition in 2018 after the addition of women’s lacrosse to its sports roster in March 2016. Women’s lacrosse is the first sport addition to the conference since its reinvention in 2013. The American will now sponsor 10 men’s and 12 women’s sports. The conference will conduct its first women’s lacrosse championship in 2019 with the site and dates still to be determined. The American will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.

Full Article

In a move that was on the horizon for over a year, the Big East announced on Wednesday that women’s lacrosse would go from ten teams to six teams beginning with the 2019 season. After one fina

l season at its current 10 team configuration in the spring of 2018, the Big East will have a six team league the following season. Core Big East members Butler, Georgetown, Marquette, and Villanova will be joined by current affiliate member Denver and incoming affiliate member Old Dominion. Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Temple, and Vanderbilt will depart the Big East to form a new league under the banner of the American Athletic Conference, along with core AAC member East Carolina, who will play their first season of Division 1 women’s lacrosse as an independent in 2018.

Full Article

Monday Lax Links


-Minnesota Club Team Wants D1 Status

-More Lacrosse Coming to Northern Colorado

-Lacrosse's Olympic Chances

-New Women's League, WPLL, Holds Exhibition Game

-Florida High School Adds Lacrosse

-NLL Looks to New York

-Nebraska Club Team Aims to Grow the Game

Akron Adds Women's Lacrosse

University of Akron (UA) President Matthew J. Wilson and Director of Athletics Larry Williams today announced their intention to recommend a novel, community support-backed effort to restore the UA baseball team and add a women's lacrosse team, beginning competition in the 2019-20 academic year. These programs will feature an Ohio-focused student-athlete recruiting strategy, the use of existing university and community facilities, and cost controls. Another key component of this plan is that any athletic scholarships provided to student-athletes for these two sports will come from community financial support – not University funds. The recommendation will be presented to the UA Board of Trustees for consideration at its October 11th Board meeting. President Wilson said,


"We have heard loud and clear the community's desire to bring baseball back to UA and we have been examining ways to do that in a financially responsible manner. Prospective students have voiced the same desire. We also want to offer an additional avenue for female student-athletes to simultaneously benefit from a quality education at The University of Akron and on-the-field Division-I competition. After much discussion and planning, we believe that we have identified some creative ways to achieve our objectives while focusing on student-athletes from Ohio. Now, we hope that the community will come forward and assist the University in restoring baseball and adding women's lacrosse."

Full Article

Ashland University (D2 OH) Adds Women's Lacrosse

Ashland University officials announced on Monday (Sept. 11) that its athletic department will add women's lacrosse and men's tennis as varsity intercollegiate sports, beginning with the 2018-19 school year.


"We have been evaluating the addition of these two sports for the past couple of years as part of our strategic plan to increase enrollment and continue to expand the geographic diversity of our student population," said Dr. Carlos Campo, President of Ashland University. "Ashland remains committed to maintaining a strong program of intercollegiate athletics marked by excellence and spiritual values."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Wisconsin School District Adds Lacrosse

-NLL Expands to San Diego

-Will Lacrosse in San Diego Mean More Pro Teams in the Future?

-Canadian Professional League Coming?

-Interest in Lacrosse Growing Locally in Oregon

-Growing Box Lacrosse in Baltimore

-Is Box Lacrosse More Poised to Grow Than Field?

-American Built Box - A Documentary

-Minnesota School District Looks to Add Lacrosse

-Why is there no Lacrosse in Hampton Roads, VA?

-30 Teams for the NLL?

-US Lacrosse Offers Benefits Beyond Insurance & Magazine

-NY Community to Host Inaugural Lacrosse Festival


Sunday Lax Links


-Are Helmets Good for W. Lacrosse?

-Help Introduce Lacrosse to These Connecticut Elementary School Students

-Update on the new Women's Pro League

-Lacrosse is Fastest Growing Sport in California

-Haiti Lacrosse Planting Seeds

-High School Sports Continue to Grow Across Nation

-Lacrosse Sees Fastest Growth in California

-Men's Lacrosse to Experiment with Shot Clock

-Ohio Machine Goalie and the States Lacrosse Growth

-MLL Eyes Dallas for Potential Expansion

-Jamaica Lacrosse Provides Model for Growth

-Box Lacrosse Grows in Upstate NY

Sunday Lax Links

-New York Lacrosse Festival Continues to Grow

-The Power of One Stick

-Lacrosse Franchises Use Community Outreach to Build Fan Base

-Lacrosse Talent is Heading West

-Lacrosse Talent is Heading West (Canada Edition)

-Stocking Utah's Pond

-Women's Lacrosse Makes World Games Debut

-Growing Danish Lacrosse

-Growth of Lacrosse in Europe

-UVA Lacrosse Coach Grows Game in South Dakota

-Growing the Game in South Dakota

-In Big League's Shadows Lacrosse Grows on Twitter

College of Idaho (NAIA) Adds Men's Lacrosse

CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho athletic director Reagan Rossi has announced that men's lacrosse has been moved from a club sport to varsity status for the 2018 season.

 Lacrosse will become the tenth men's varsity sport – joining baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, skiing, soccer, swimming and track & field. It marks the first varsity men's lacrosse team in the State of Idaho – and joins the University of Providence (Mont.), Marymount (Calif.) and Westminster College (Utah) as the only small college varsity programs west of the Rockies. Student-athletes will have the ability to earn athletic-based aid, while budgets for the program have shifted from student fees to the athletic department.

"We are excited to have lacrosse move to a varsity sport," Rossi said. I feel this is the best transition for student-athletes and our department. The leadership that Matt Gier has provided will make this a natural transition and will continue to enhance the student athlete experience on our campus."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Help a Low Income California Elementary School Gain Access to Lacrosse Equipment

-Delaware State Lacrosse Joins the SoCon

-Canadian Trio Behind Finland Lacrosse Growth

-MLL Looks to Expand the Game

-Scotland Aiming High at World Lacrosse Championships

-Thompson Brothers Hold Camp in Georgia

-Paul Rabil, Lacrosse's $1 Million Dollar Man

-Growing Lacrosse in Oregon

Lewis University (D2 IL) Adds Women's Lacrosse

Romeoville, Ill. - Lewis University Director of Athletics Dr. John Planek announced on Monday (July 10) the addition of women's bowling and women's lacrosse to the NCAA Division II offerings of the Flyer Athletics Department, beginning in 2018-19.


 The addition of these two teams increases Lewis' scholarship sport offerings from 20 to 22. Since 1980, Lewis has competed as one of 15 current member institutions of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

"We are very excited to announce the addition of these sports," Planek said. "Women's lacrosse is played in nearly 70 high schools in Illinois and we would be one of the few institutions offering scholarships.

"It is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and particularly in the Midwest."

Full Article

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-Utah Men's Lacrosse; How it Happened and Why it Matters

-Help This Illinois School Raise Money For Lacrosse Equipment

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-Women's Lacrosse Debut's at Indigenous Games

-Lacrosse Camp Highlights Growth in Georgia

-NLL May Expand to San Diego and Philadelphia

-MLL All-Star Game Has Great Turn Out in California

-Lacrosse Club Helps Sport Grow in Virginia

-Rabil Gives Recipe on How to Grow Lacrosse

-How to Grow the Sport of Lacrosse

Sunday Lax Links

-Mearns Eager to Grow Bonnies Lacrosse

-Committee Recommends Free Movement in NCAA WLax

-World is Watching: Lacrosse at the World Games

-Greece Becomes FIL's 57th Member

-Qatar Becomes FIL's 58th Member

-Utah to Add M. Lacrosse

-Utah is the Spark that Will Grow Western Lacrosse

-Could the B1G Adds Utah Lacrosse?

-US Lacrosse Invests in the City of Albany

Utah to Add Men's Lacrosse, Become's the Pac-12s First Varsity Program

SALT LAKE CITY—The University of Utah will begin sponsoring men's lacrosse as an NCAA sport starting in 2018-19, Utah director of athletics Chris Hill announced today. The University of Utah Board of Trustees approved the decision. The men's lacrosse team will continue to compete as a club sport in 2017-18. Men's lacrosse is the U.'s first completely new NCAA sport since women's soccer was added back in 1995. The Utes began fielding a beach volleyball team this past spring, drawing its members and coaches from the existing volleyball program.


With the addition of men's lacrosse, Utah will support 20 total NCAA sports—eight men's and 12 women's. "A lot of research and effort went into our decision to add men's lacrosse," said Hill. "With several great club sports expressing an interest in achieving NCAA status, a working committee was formed to determine the parameters for adding a new sport. Among the factors considered were the potential impact on our other teams, financial self sustainability, compliance with Title IX and popularity in our community. Men's lacrosse met those criteria.

It is the first endowed program for University of Utah athletics. Nowadays, adding sports at the college level almost always requires an endowment, which resonated with the University-appointed committee."

Full Article

Press Conference Transcript

US Lacrosse Releases Annual Participation Survey

National lacrosse participation continued its upward trend in 2016 with the total number of participants on organized teams climbing past 825,000, according to an annual report produced by US Lacrosse. Overall, participation grew 3 percent to 826,023, and it was the 12th consecutive year that the net increase in players was at least 20,000.

The number of youth players topped 450,000 for the first time ever, and lacrosse continues to be the fastest-growing team sport at the high school and collegiate levels. Over the last five years, the number of schools sponsoring lacrosse at the high school level has risen 27 percent, and the number of NCAA schools sponsoring lacrosse has grown 33 percent.

Full Article

Survey .PDF

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-Penn Lacrosse Hosts Urban Lacrosse Jamboree

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-Alabama Lacrosse Growing, Sending Players to Colleges

-Lacrosse Could Become Fixture at Jamaica, Queens HS

Monday Lax Links


-Upstate NY Schools Needs Donors For Lax Program

-More on Utah Possibly Adding Lacrosse

-Denver Winning Big Without Football

-Lacrosse Coaches Build Sport in Underserved Communities

-Lacrosse on the Rise in Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia.

-New Women's League, the WPLL Announced

-Suburban Coaches Push for Girls Lacrosse Programs

-Lacrosse Popularity Growing in RI

-Epoch Lacrosse Continues to Grow


Life University (NAIA GA) Adds Women's Lacrosse

MARIETTA, Ga. – Life University Director of Athletics Jayme Pendergast announced the addition of Women's Lacrosse to the Running Eagles athletics department on Tuesday. The program will begin its inaugural season in the spring of 2019.

"We are very excited to add Women's Lacrosse to our expanding athletic department," said Pendergast. "Lacrosse will bring a sport to LIFE's campus that is not only growing in the state of Georgia, but nationally. Lupo Family Field will serve as a beautiful facility for competition and I'm looking forward to adding such an exciting sport that is emerging in the NAIA." The sport is rapidly growing with 32 schools currently competing in the NAIA. While Women's Lacrosse is currently an invitational sport, it will transition to a national championship sport once a minimum 40 schools sponsor Women's Lacrosse programs.

Full Article

Quick Hits:


-Columbia to Host 2018 Ivy League Lacrosse Championships

-Rutgers Coach Talks NCAA Snub

-Southern Utah HS Lacrosse Teams Excited for State Sanctioning

-HS Lacrosse Teams Excited to Play in First Sanctioned Ohio State Tournament

-Has the Ohio Machine Started a Stadium Movement?

-Buffalo Coach Promotes Lacrosse Community Day

-UNC To Renovate Lacrosse Facility

-Lacrosse Shining in Warwick, RI

Sunday Lax Links

-Penn State to Renovate Lacrosse Facility

-Wheelchair Lacrosse Demo'd at MCLA Championships

-Washington State Girls Lacrosse Program Sees Interest Grow

-Water Polo and Lacrosse Growing at High School Level in Texas

-Lacrosse Growing in Popularity in Rockford, IL

-Laguna Beach HS Considers Adding Lacrosse

-Bill Belichick Foundation Contributes to Programs growth

-South Jersey School Focused on Growing the Game

-Lacrosse Growth in Urban Seattle

-Lacrosse's New Generation Growing in Utah

-Lacrosse Growing Rapidly in Central PA

Recapping 2017's Inaugural Year Programs

Northland College
Division III (M/W)
Wisconsin
M - 2017 Record: 6-9 
W - 2017 Record: 0-13 

Marian University
NAIA (W)
Indiana
W - 2017 Record: 6-8


Cleveland State University
Division 1 (M)
Ohio
M - 2017 Record: 5-9 


Concordia University
Division 2 (W)
Minnesota 
W - 2017 Record: 8-8


North Central College
Division 3 (M)
Illinois
M - 2017 Record: 10-4 


Monmouth College
Division 2 (M/W)
Illinois
M - 2017 Record: 3-11 
W - 2017 Record: 1-14

Maryville University
Division 2 (M)
Missouri
M - 2017 Record: 0-14 


Lyndon State College
Division 3 (W)
Vermont
W - 2017 Record: 2-9

Newbury College
Division 3 (W)
Massachusetts
W - 2017 Record: 0-13

Heidelberg University
Division 3 (M/W)
Ohio
M - 2017 Record: 3-13 
W - 2017 Record: 0-12

North Central University
Division 3 (M)
Minnesota
M - 2017 Record: 0-10 


Madonna University
NAIA (M/W)
Michigan
M - 2017 Record: 1-11
W - 2017 Record: 0-16

University of Northwestern
Division 3 (M)
Minnesota
M - 2017 Record: 5-7 


University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Division 2 (W)
Colorado
W - 2017 Record: 4-10

Butler University
Division 1 (W)
Indiana
W - 2017 Record: 1-16

Concordia University Ann Arbor
NAIA (M/W)
Michigan
M - 2017 Record: 2-7 
W - 2017 Record: 3-12

St. Joseph's College
Division 3 (M)
New York
M - 2017 Record: 7-6


Ohio Valley University
Division 2 (W)
West Virginia
W - 2017 Record: 0-3

Chowan University
Division 2 (M)
North Carolina
M - 2017 Record: 1-12

Union College
NAIA (M/W)
Kentucky
Postponed until 2018

Barton College
Division 2 (W)
North Carolina
W - 2017 Record: 1-11

Keiser University
NAIA (M/W)
Florida
M - 2017 Record: 9-2 
W - 2017 Record: 1-12

Westminster College
Division 3 (M/W)
Missouri
M - 2017 Record: 9-7 
W - 2017 Record: 7-6

NYIT
Division 2 (W)
New York
W - 2017 Record: 15-4

DeSales University
Division 3 (W)
Pennsylvania
W - 2017 Record: 5-12


Thursday Lax Links


-Slow and Steady the Business of Lacrosse Marches On

-Lacrosse Growing in Greenville, OK

-Edmonton, AL Sees Girls Lacrosse Growth

-FIL Championships Moving to Israel

-Maine Eases HS Co-Op Rules, Will Help Lacrosse Growth

-Twitter to Stream MLL Game of the Week

-St. Marys to Cut Women's Lacrosse

-UChicago W. Lax to Join CCIW as Affiliate Member

-American Athletic Conference States It Will Consider Sponsoring W. Lacrosse

-Maryland Expanding HS State Lacrosse Championship

-Lacrosse Growing in Central PA

-Growth Leads to World Championship Growth Switch

-Interest in Girls Lacrosse Grows in Western Mass

-SC Player Example of States Lacrosse Growth


University at Plattsburgh (NY D3) Adds Women's Lacrosse

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced the addition of women's lacrosse as its 18th varsity sport on Tuesday afternoon. The Cardinals will begin NCAA Division III competition in 2018-19 and will compete in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). Plattsburgh State's addition of women's lacrosse means that all 10 SUNYAC schools will now sponsor the sport.

The rest of the SUNYAC includes The College at Brockport, Buffalo State, SUNY Cortland, Fredonia, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, Oswego State and SUNY Potsdam.


"I am beyond thrilled to make this announcement today," said Plattsburgh State director of athletics Mike Howard. "The addition of women´s lacrosse has been a point of discussion for many years here at Plattsburgh and was certainly high on my list of priorities when I accepted this position as the director of athletics in June. This program complements all of our existing programs extremely well and positions us well as we look to expand our recruiting footprint throughout the entire Northeast. The sport of lacrosse is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing sports on the high school level, and I am hopeful that this program, similar to all of our other Cardinal teams, will play a key leadership role in the continued growth of the game at the youth and high school level in our region. It also provides a tremendous opportunity for young women who are looking seriously at SUNY Plattsburgh and are passionate about continuing to play the sport they love. It's a win-win situation for all of us."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

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Lacrosse Growing in Greenville County, OK

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-Lacrosse Continues to Boom in Gulf Breeze, FL

University of Wisconsin - River Falls (D3) Adds Women's Lacrosse

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - The University of Wisconsin-River Falls announces it will be adding women's lacrosse as its 17th varsity sport, with the first team set to compete in the 2018-19 academic year.

 UWRF will become the first public institution in the area to sponsor women's lacrosse as a varsity sport in any of the NCAA's three divisions. Currently there are 282 Division III institutions that sponsor women's lacrosse, including approximately 30 in the Upper Midwest.

 "We have been exploring the possibility of adding women's lacrosse for a number of years," said Crystal Lanning, interim athletic director. "Given the growth of girls and women's lacrosse in the area and our recent facility renovations, the timing was right to make the move and we will be well positioned to produce a highly competitive team."

Full Article

Illinois Tech (D3) Adds Men's Lacrosse

CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois Tech Athletics is excited to announce the addition of a new varsity athletic program. Men’s lacrosse will join the Scarlet Hawk athletic lineup beginning in the 2018-19 school year.

 "Men's lacrosse will be a great addition to our athletic department profile at Illinois Tech,” said Joe Hakes, Director of Athletics. “The combination of a world class STEM school and a growing, exiting sport will be a draw for the student-athlete who is looking for the best of both worlds.” Illinois Tech expects to hire a Head Coach for the new program prior to the start of the 2017-18 school year.

The Scarlet Hawks will join a large group of NCAA Division III institution with men’s lacrosse sponsorships. As of this spring, 237 men’s lacrosse programs competed at the Division III level. “Our Stuart Field facility is a great place to play, and we look for the men's lacrosse program to grow quickly in both size and talent,” Hakes said. “We are beginning a national search to identify the right person to start this program and to recruit top quality students and top quality athletes into it."

Full Article

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-Nova Scotian Gives Back to Game

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Barton College (D2 NC) Adds Men's Lacrosse

WILSON, N.C. – Barton College will add men’s lacrosse as an intercollegiate sport beginning with the 2018-19 season, school officials announced Wednesday. The addition will increase the number of sports offered by Barton to 22 and the number of student-athletes on campus to nearly 350.

 “Barton College is looking forward to the addition of men’s lacrosse,” said Todd Wilkinson, Barton’s director of athletics. “Men’s lacrosse will support the institution’s enrollment initiatives and Barton’s desire to grow in the coming years.”

Full Article

Sunday Lax Links

-NLL Inks Twitter Steam Deal









St. Bonaventure (D1 NY), Sage College (D3 NY) and Marietta College (D3 OH) Add Lacrosse

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – As part of its strategic initiatives, St. Bonaventure University will add men's lacrosse to its NCAA athletics lineup beginning with the 2018-19 academic year.

"For a number of reasons, the addition of men's lacrosse at St. Bonaventure is extremely beneficial for the institution," Director of Athletics Tim Kenney said. "This is a strategic decision that recognizes an opportunity for our department and for the university. Over the next several years, men's lacrosse will add approximately 45-50 student-athletes to our growing department, which will be an integral part of enrollment at St. Bonaventure."

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Albany, NY--The Sage Colleges' is pleased to announce the addition of two new varsity teams to its athletics program. Endorsed by President Susan Scrimshaw and Sage's Board of Trustees, the Gators will compete in field hockey and men's lacrosse beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year. The new teams elevate the total number of Sage's varsity offerings to 17.

 Director of Athletics Dani Drews made the official announcement noting, "The two programs will fit perfectly into Sage's growing athletic department." She added, "With high school participation centered in the Northeast and our new membership in the Empire 8, we are confident that we can successfully recruit over 50 new student-athletes to Sage and be immediately competitive within the conference."

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MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College announces the addition of men's and women's lacrosse as varsity sports, with competition beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. The lacrosse teams will bring the total number of varsity sports at the College to 22 — 11 men's programs and 11 women's programs.

"It's very exciting for Marietta College to bring back men's lacrosse and add a women's program, arguably the fastest-growing sport in the NCAA," said Marietta College President William N. Ruud. "We are committed to making sure our lacrosse programs will be competitive in the Division III landscape, which means recruiting student-athletes in different parts of the nation. PioNation will enjoy watching this fast-paced sport in the near future."

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Whitworth University (D3 WA) Adds Women's Lacroses

SPOKANE, Wash. – Women’s lacrosse will become Whitworth University’s 21st varsity sport and will begin playing games in the spring of 2019. Whitworth will become the seventh Northwest Conference school to sponsor women’s lacrosse. George Fox, Linfield, Pacific (Ore.), Puget Sound and Whitman already sponsor women’s lacrosse as a varsity sport. Willamette will also begin playing varsity games in the spring of 2019.

 “We are excited to provide another opportunity for our students to compete in a Northwest Conference sport that, up until this point, we did not offer,” said Tim Demant, Whitworth’s Director of Athletics. “We will now provide an opportunity for those students who desire to play women’s lacrosse at the collegiate level an opportunity to also get a Whitworth education.”

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Taylor University (IN NAIA) Adds Lacrosse

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor University has announced plans to begin men's and women's varsity lacrosse programs, increasing the number of intercollegiate programs offered to student-athletes at TU to 20. 

"We are excited about bringing men's and women's lacrosse from a club sport level to a varsity sport," stated Vice President for Student Development Skip Trudeau. "As clubs they have been a great addition to our campus and taking them to the varsity level is the next logical step."

The men's lacrosse program will continue as a club sport until it begins playing official varsity contests during the spring of 2019 and the women's lacrosse team will begin playing competitively the following season in 2020.

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