Xavier University (D1 OH) Adds Women's Lacrosse

CINCINNATI - Xavier University Vice President and Director of Athletics Greg Christopher announced today that Xavier will add women's lacrosse as its 19th NCAA Division I varsity sport. The program will play its inaugural season in the 2022-23 academic year. "We are excited about the addition of the nation's fastest-growing sport, women's lacrosse, as our 10th women's sport at Xavier," said Christopher.

"Women's lacrosse has exploded in popularity at the high school and collegiate level in Ohio and throughout the Midwest and East Coast footprint of the BIG EAST Conference." Xavier will join Butler, Connecticut, Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova and affiliate member Denver as women's lacrosse-playing members of the BIG EAST Conference. Women's lacrosse, which plays its championship season in the spring, will compete in BIG EAST Conference play beginning in the Spring of 2024.

There are currently 524 NCAA women's lacrosse programs, including 117 in NCAA Division I, and the list is growing. The Ohio High School Athletic Association sponsored women's lacrosse beginning in 2017 and now there are more than 130 programs statewide.

Full Article

Posted in: Division I,Ohio

Thomas More University (NAIA KY) Adds Men's Lacrosse

Thomas More University President Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D., and Director of Athletics Terry Connor have announced the addition of men's lacrosse to the sports offering in the University's athletic department. Men's lacrosse will be the 29th athletic program at Thomas More, which continues the University's commitment to invest in the student experience. 

 A national search will begin immediately for a full-time head coach for the team.

The University will begin recruiting for the 2021-2022 academic year, which will be club season as the program begins to build a roster. Men's lacrosse will begin playing a varsity schedule during the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition to beginning men's lacrosse and hiring a full-time head coach, Thomas More will also begin a national search for the women's lacrosse program's first full-time head coach. As the women's lacrosse program has grown over the last few years, the University is investing in that program and the women's lacrosse student-athletes to provide them the best experience on and off the field that a full-time head coach can provide. 

 "Lacrosse is a growing sport and we want to be able to commit to our students by providing opportunities where they're needed," said Connor. "The new full-time head coach for women's lacrosse will take the program to another level, truly raising the bar for that team and the student-athletes already involved. The new men's team adds numerous opportunities for current and prospective Saints."

Full Article

Posted in: Kentucky,NAIA

Malone University (D2 OH) Adds Lacrosse

CANTON, Ohio – Malone University officials today announced that the institution is adding women's and men's intercollegiate lacrosse programs. With the additional programs, Malone offers students 17 intercollegiate programs competing at the NCAA Div. II level and as members of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The conference launched women's competition in 2016 followed by men's lacrosse in 2017. 

 "Lacrosse continues to grow in interest in Ohio, the Midwest, and along the East Coast, places where we attract students," said Tanya Hockman, interim director of athletics. "Adding lacrosse is a natural extension of our strategic plan for athletics and made possible by the installation of the competition field of Pioneer Park." 

 Both Malone teams will call Pioneer Park their home field. The multipurpose, synthetic athletic field is under construction and will be completed by August of this year. Malone officials will launch a coaching search this spring and the Pioneers will begin intercollegiate play in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Full Article

Posted in: Division III,Ohio

Atlantic Sun Conference to Sponsor Men's Lacrosse

ATLANTA Ga. - The ASUN Conference proudly announces the formation of ASUN Men's Lacrosse. This is the second time in nine years that the ASUN has built a new Men's Lacrosse conference. The partnership with the Southern Conference continues as the ASUN again builds opportunities for student-athletes. The ASUN first built a Men's Lacrosse conference in Fall 2012 when it announced ASUN Men's Lacrosse with a founding membership of Furman, High Point, Jacksonville, Mercer, Richmond, and VMI.

 That group began play in the 2013-14 season with the Richmond Spiders earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. Today, the ASUN announces a new group of six that includes Air Force, Bellarmine, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris, and Utah. "The primary goal of our lacrosse partnership with the Southern Conference is to maximize opportunity," ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart said. "Our first responsibility is the highest level of service to our full member institutions; when partnerships offer increased opportunity for all, that meets our primary ASUN BEAM of Students First."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Peach Belt Conference to Add Men's Lacrosse

-New York Tech Pauses Athletics for Two Years

-Alfred State College Drops Lacrosse

-PLL and MLL Merge

-Houghton College Drops Lacrosse

Posted in: Colorado,Conferences,Division I,Division III,Kentucky,MLL,New York,Ohio,Pennsylvania,PLL,Professional,Utah

Fairleigh Dickinson University (D1 NJ) Adds Women's Lacrosse

HACKENSACK, N.J. – One week removed from announcing the addition of men's volleyball, Fairleigh

Dickinson University President Christopher A. Capuano and Director of Athletics Bradford D. Hurlbut are excited to announce that the department will also be adding women's lacrosse to the Knights' stable of programs. With this addition, FDU increases its sport total to 21 teams and becomes the first NCAA Division I institution in the 2020-21 academic calendar to introduce two new programs.

The Burgundy and Blue will compete in the Northeast Conference as the league's ninth women's lacrosse member. "FDU is proud and excited to welcome women's lacrosse, the 21st Division I athletic program on our Metropolitan Campus," said President Capuano.


"The introduction of this great sport, on the heels of the addition of men's volleyball, illustrates the strength and continued growth of our athletics program. An added benefit of these two new programs is their popularity within New Jersey and the possibility of keeping more New Jersey students close to home to study and compete."

Full Article