Colby-Sawyer College (D3 NH) Adds Men's Lacrosse

Colby-Sawyer College will add two new varsity sports programs — softball in the fall of 2025 and men’s lacrosse in the fall of 2026.

Both programs will compete in NCAA Division III, which emphasizes the importance of academics alongside athletics. This expansion of the college’s athletic offerings reflects its commitment to providing a comprehensive experience to student-athletes and promoting student engagement through diverse sports programs.

“The addition of these two highly competitive and popular varsity pr

ograms will be a tremendous benefit both for our student-athletes and for the campus community at large,” Director of Athletics Jeanette McKillop said. “The introduction of softball and men’s lacrosse will not only enhance the college’s athletic portfolio but also create new opportunities for student-athletes to compete at a collegiate level.”

Both sports are popular among college students in the region. According to McKillop, the number of men’s lacrosse programs in Division III has surged in the Northeast as schools have recognized the sport's appeal and its ability to draw student interest. As of 2023, more than 200 colleges field men’s lacrosse teams. This growth reflects a broader trend in youth sports, where lacrosse has gained popularity particularly among high school athletes. Because of its current popularity, lacrosse will return to the Olympic games in 2028.

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Posted in: Division III,New Hampshire

William Woods University (NAIA MO) Adds Men's Lacrosse

FULTON, Mo. - In addition to the previously announced additions of Football, Flag Football and Competitive Dance, William Woods University will add Men's Lacrosse for the 2024-25 school year, with 2023 KCAC Coach of the Year Seth Matlock joining the Owls as the team's head coach. The team is seeking affiliate membership in the Heart of America Athletic Conference for the spring 2025 season. "The addition of men's lacrosse is a strategic step in our five-year growth plan," said Director of Athletics Steve Wilson.

"Lacrosse is a rising sport in both the NAIA and the Heart of America Athletic Conference. I'm excited to continue this historic growth - at The Woods, in the Heart, and in the NAIA." "The addition of men's lacrosse at William Woods is another important investment in the future of our University, one that typifies the remarkable growth and vitality of our institution," said President Dr. Jeremy Moreland. "Across the board, we have been growing at The Woods – in enrollment, academics and athletics – and adding lacrosse is the latest demonstration of our eagerness to welcome students to our campus." Men's Lacrosse is in its eighth year as an Invitational championship in the NAIA, with 31 schools currently declared for the sport. Six members of the Heart currently sponsor men's lacrosse, with William Penn (no. 5) and Benedictine (no. 10) both finishing the 2024 regular season ranked in the NAIA Coaches' Rating.

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Posted in: Missouri,NAIA

Austin Peay State University (D1 TN) Adds Women's Lacrosse

 CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University Athletics Department is set to add women's lacrosse – the fastest-growing sport in the National Collegiate Athletics Association – to its intercollegiate athletics programs for Spring 2026. In adding women's lacrosse, the Governors add their 17th athletic team – and 11th women's program – competing at the Division I level. 

 "As always, it is a great day to be a Gov and we are thrilled to announce the addition of a women's lacrosse program at Austin Peay," said APSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. "Lacrosse is the fastest-growing women's sport in the NCAA, and we are excited to have the first Division I women's lacrosse program at a public university in the state of Tennessee! "This is an exciting time for Austin Peay and the entire Clarksville community, and I can't wait to watch an entirely new group of Governors student-athletes fulfill the 'Total Gov Concept' while also competing for championships on the field!" Austin Peay plans to conduct a national search for its first-ever women's lacrosse head coach during the summer of 2024. After a head coach is hired, they would have the entirety of the 2024-25 athletic year to hire a staff, begin to recruit, and sign student-athletes.

 "The launch of a new Division I program in women's lacrosse is an exciting opportunity for Austin Peay State University," said APSU President Dr. Michael Licari. "Lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and with this new program, we will be the only public university in Tennessee with a Division I scholarship women's program. I am proud that, once again, Austin Peay leads the way in providing opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level while pursuing a top-notch education."

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Posted in: Division I,Tennessee

Florida State University Adds Women's Lacrosse

 Florida State University will add women's lacrosse as a varsity scholarship program, Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford announced on ­­­Tuesday, October 3. FSU women's lacrosse is projected to begin competition in the 2025-26 academic year. 

"We are excited to add women's lacrosse as a varsity scholarship program at Florida State," said Alford. "Lacrosse is the fastest growing college sport nationally and it is evident that our culture and community will enthusiastically embrace it. Lacrosse provides another opportunity to compete at a championship level." With this decision, FSU becomes one of 118 Division 1 NCAA women's lacrosse programs spanning 16 conferences. The Seminoles also embark on competition in one of the nation's premiere women's lacrosse conferences in the ACC, which has produced 17 NCAA women's lacrosse national champions and has placed a team in the national title game in 13 of the last 14 seasons. "As a club team at FSU, women's lacrosse has a proven culture of excellence and achievement," said Alford. "In hearing from both current and former players, their passion and input throughout this process was constructive and helpful in our decision making. I am thankful for their participation in the process and looking forward to an exciting future." 

"We are thrilled that Florida State will begin sponsoring women's lacrosse and we look forward to welcoming the program in 2025-26," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "There is no shortage of ACC women's lacrosse successes, and this is another example of our league's continued commitment to maximizing the educational and athletic opportunities for our student-athletes."

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Posted in: Division I,Florida

Dominican University (D2 CA) Adds Lacrosse

 SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican University of California is pleased to announce that both the men's and women's lacrosse teams have been elevated into the NCAA and will be joining the rest of its Dominican counterparts in participation at the NCAA Division II level, effective immediately. This will be the first NCAA Division II women's lacrosse program and the second NCAA Division II men's lacrosse program in California, with student-athletes joining the teams from throughout the United States.

"Both the men's and women's programs have been led by two exemplary leaders in coach [Samuel] Vogel-Seidenberg and coach [Joseph] Manna," Dominican Athletics Director Amy Henkelman said. "Coach Vogel-Seidenberg had a clear vision for the men's program and has done a great job of championing the sport and its development. I'm very excited for the future of both programs. The young men and women of both programs have done everything we asked of them and have been a great addition to the Dominican community, campus and department."

The Dominican men's lacrosse team has been participating at the club level as a member of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) conference since 2015 while the women's team spent its inaugural season in 2023 the Western Women's Lacrosse League (WWLL) conference of the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (WCLA). The two teams will play as independent programs, void of any conference. 

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Posted in: California,Division II