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."

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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

Friday Lax Links

-Girls Club Lacrosse Program Helps Sport Grow in North Carolina

-Growing Sport will be Sanctioned in Tennessee

-Massive Lacrosse Growth Predicted for Next Decade

-Massachusetts Re-Opening Fields for Sports

-Young-Harris to Suspend Lacrosse Team

-Johnson and Wales to Close Two Campuses, End Lacrosse Teams

-Howard Lacrosse Moves to NEC

-Delaware State to Absorb Wesley College, End Lacrosse Teams

-Furman Drops Men's Lacrosse Program

-UMass Dartmouth Cuts Men's Lacrosse Program

-As Sports Are Cut Nation Wide, How Will Lacrosse Fair

Posted in: Colorado,Conferences,Cut Sports,Delaware,Division III,Florida,Georgia,High School,Massachusetts,North Carolina,South Carolina,Tennessee,Washington D.C.

Sunday Lax Links

-Colorado Youth Lacrosse Expanding Beyond Denver

-ESPN Ratings Up for NCAA Lacrosse Championships

-Bill Belichick Talks Patriots Players That Could Play Lacrosse

-Men's Lax at JMU Unlikely 

-New Lacrosse League Looking to Score Big

-Paul Rabil 'Risking Everything' for PLL

-NAIA Lacrosse Championships Brings Economic Impact to Michigan

-ESPN to Air MLL Games in Europe

-Pat Spencer to Play Basketball for Northwestern

-Tom Brady Sues Trevor Baptist for Trademark Infringement 

-Other Counties Look to Boston Coaches for Lacrosse Help

-Powell Lacrosse Camps Encourages Growing the Game

Posted in: Camps,Championship Weekend,College,Colorado,Division I,Economic Impact,European Lacrosse,International,Legal,MLL,NAIA,PLL,Professional,TV Coverage,TV Ratings,Youth

Monday Lax Links

-Girls Lacrosse Seeks 2nd Classification in Colorado

-Boys Lacrosse Growing in Wyoming Valley, PA

-NLL and US Boxla Enter into Partnership

-Wings Look to Grow Lacrosse in Philly

-Girls Lacrosse Grows in Missouri

-It was a Leap of Faith to Add the AQ

-LIU Sets Plans for New Mascot

-Lacrosse Growing in Indiana

-MLLs Plan to Enhance Their Brand

-FIL Rebrands at World Lacrosse

-Lacrosse Growing in Madison Wisconsin 

-Detroit Mercy on Forefront of Growth

Posted in: Box Lacrosse,College,Colorado,FIL,High School,Indiana,Michigan,Missouri,MLL,New York,NLL,Pennsylvania,Postseason,Professional,Urban Growth,USBOXLA,Wisconsin,World Lacrosse,Youth

Urbana University (D2 OH) Adds Women's Lacrosse

URBANA, Ohio – The Urbana University Department of Athletics announced it will add two sports with the revival of women's lacrosse and the addition of women's water polo. Both sports will begin competition in 2020-21.

 Urbana Blue Knights Athletics will expand to 23 combined NCAA Division II varsity and club sports, which also includes the additions of acrobatics & tumbling, men's wrestling and men's volleyball in the past two years. UU will now feature 12 total women's varsity and club programs. The Blue Knights will compete among six women's lacrosse teams in the Mountain East Conference, where it finished sixth in 2015 and fifth in 2016. UU discontinued women's lacrosse in 2016 after going 10-73 in six seasons of NCAA DII competition.

 "I am excited to bring women's lacrosse back to Urbana University," Executive Vice President/CEO Dr. Christopher Washington said. "My enthusiasm is fueled by UU alumni who played lacrosse and went on to become intercollegiate coaches at other universities. I expect that women's lacrosse will attract scholar-athletes, promote healthy lifestyles, foster growth in leadership and teamwork skills, and encourage the pursuit of excellence that challenges them to reach their full potential."

Full Article

Lax Links:

-Florida Community Adds Lacrosse

-Lacrosse Growing in Ghana

-NAIA Expansion and Bright Future

-Colorado High Schools Prepare for Inaugural Seasons

-Asbury University (KY) Discontinuous Program

-Kyle Harrison Works to Introduce Lacrosse to Baltimore Youth

-First Iowa Youth Lacrosse League Formed

-Lacrosse Coming to Tennessee High Schools 

-FIL Announces Olympic Rule Proposals 

-Pros and Cons of FIL Rule Proposals

Posted in: Colorado,Cut Sports,Division II,FIL,Florida,Ghana,High School,International,Iowa,Kentucky,Maryland,NAIA,Ohio,Olympics,Rules,Tennessee,Urban Growth,Youth

Sunday Lax Links

-NAIA Championships Moves to Georgia

-Tennessee Officials Adopts High School Lacrosse

-Game Runs Deep in Lyle Thompson's Roots

-Lacrosse Defense Sticks Market Outlook

-PLL to Partner with the WPLL

-San Diego Seals Help Grow the Game

-Uganda Targets Youth to Grow the Game

-Growth of Dallas Box Lacrosse

-What Cities Should the PLL Pick?

-Lacrosse Growing in Boulder Colorado

-Thriving Lacrosse Scene in Tennessee

Posted in: Box Lacrosse,California,College,Colorado,Georgia,High School,Industry,NAIA,Native Americans,NLL,PLL,Professional,Tennessee,Texas,Uganda,WPLL,Youth

Monday Lax Links

-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (D3) to Sponsor Lacrosse

-NAC and NECC (D3) Conferences Form Partnership

-ESPN Releases New Lacrosse Documentary

-College Cross Public Records Request Updates

-Lacrosse, Arizona's Fastest Growing Sport

-Do We Need a New Western Lacrosse Conference?

-Growth of Lacrosse in the UAE

-Colorado Hosts Wheelchair Lacrosse Championships

Posted in: Arizona,Colorado,Conferences,Division I,Division III,TV,United Arab Emirates,Wheelchair Lacrosse

Sunday Lax Links

-Indianapolis School District Considering Adding Lacrosse

-Youth Lacrosse Coming to Michigan Community

-Colorado High School Adding Lacrosse

-New England Recruits Headed South

-Lacrosse Fastest Growing Sport in Wisconsin

-School Sets Blueprint for Wisconsin Growth

-US Lacrosse Donates to Florida Community

-Native American Lacrosse Team Reports Abuse

-Mt. Ida College to Close, Sports Teams to End

-Scholarship Challenge for Philadelphia Recruit

-NLL Partners with OTT Network

-Lacrosse is Fast Paced and Fast Growing in West Virginia 

-Girls Lacrosse Attempting to Find Footing in West Virginia

-Bid to Grow Lacrosse Club in Australia

Posted in: Australia,Colorado,Cut Sports,Division III,Florida,Indiana,Massachusetts,Michigan,NLL,Pennsylvania,Recruiting,South Dakota,TV Coverage,Urban Growth,US Lacrosse,West Virginia,Wisconsin,Youth

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

Posted in: College,Colorado,Florida,High School,MCLA,Minnesota,Nebraska,New York,NLL,Olympics,Professional,WPLL

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

Posted in: College,Colorado,Division I,Industry,New York,Pennsylvania,Professional,Rhode Island,Tennessee,Urban Growth,Utah,Virginia,WPLL,Youth

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

Posted in: Colorado,Florida,Illinois,Indiana,Kentucky,Massachusetts,Michigan,Minnesota,Missouri,New Jersey,New York,North Carolina,Ohio,Pennsylvania,Vermont,West Virginia,Wisconsin

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:

-NCAA Championship Sites Announced

-Lakewood Ranch, FL Begins Process of Adding High School Lacrosse

-Lacrosse Growing in Rolesville, NC

-Colorado Women's Lacrosse Succeeds Despite Growing Pains

Lacrosse Growing in Greenville County, OK

-Will the University of Minnesota Add Women's Lacrosse

-Ohio State Participates in Grow the Game Initiative 

-Lacrosse Continues to Boom in Gulf Breeze, FL

Posted in: Colorado,Division I,Division III,Florida,High School,Minnesota,NCAA,New York,North Carolina,Ohio,Oklahoma,Postseason,Youth

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.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Lacrosse Growing in Jamaica

-DC Officials Want to Add Lacrosse to Middle School Curriculum 

-A Look Back at New D1 Programs 

-Twitter Streaming a Plus for Lacrosse

-LaxPowers Paywall Affecting Lacrosse Community

-NCAA May Squash WLax Double Headers

-Ex Dowling Players Finding Success at NYIT

-Starsia Advocates for Native American Community

-JWU-Denver to Move to NCAA DIII, Considering M. Lacrosse

Posted in: College,Colorado,Cut Sports,Division I,Division III,Indiana,Jamaica,Media,NAIA,Native Americans,New York,Rules,Social Media,Statistics,Urban Growth,Washington D.C.,Youth

Monday Lax Links

-NLL Outdraws NHL in Denver

-Cleveland State All Business in Debut

-Patriot Leagues Historic Twitter Stream of Loyola-UVA

-Loyola-UVA The First Twitter Streamed Game

-Midweek Games Becoming a Rarity

-WLax Possession Clock An Advantage for Defenders

-Ex-Dowling Players Sticking Together

-Chris Hogan Forms A New Face of Lacrosse

-Taiwan Awarded Full Membership Into FIL

-Growing the Game Through Diversity and Inclusion

-NAIA Continues to Drive Men's Lacrosse Growth in Kansas

-Race in the Sport of Lacrosse

Posted in: Colorado,Conferences,Cut Sports,Diversity,Division I,Division II,Kansas,Maryland,Media,NAIA,New York,NLL,Ohio,Professional,Rules,Schedules,Shot Clock,Social Media,Taiwan,Virginia

Wilmington University (D2 DE) Adds Men's Lacrosse

NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University athletic department is proud to announce the addition of men's lacrosse to its expanding family starting competition in the spring of 2018.

The added sport will bring Wilmington's total up to 14 varsity programs. Men's lacrosse has long been a staple in the Mid-Atlantic and is a continuing trend in Delaware. Being located along the I-95 corridor, Wilmington University will look to add to the East Coast bias and help the expansion of already rapidly growing sport.

 "It's an exciting time for the athletic department with the addition of men's lacrosse," Director of Athletics Linda Van Drie-Andrzjewski said. "Not only does it mean growth within the department here at Wilmington, it means growth within the CACC and the sport of men's lacrosse in state of Delaware."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Uganda's Lacrosse Team Tastes Success

-NCAA Removes One Play-in Game from NCAA Tournament

-Nationally Ranked Figure Skater Also Plays Lacrosse

-Lacrosse Checks in to the UAE Sports Scene

-Pennsylvania High School Adds Boys Lacrosse

-Lacrosse Still Important to New England Patriot

-Colorado High School to Add Girls Lacrosse

Posted in: College,Colorado,Delaware,Division II,High School,NCAA,Pennsylvania,Postseason,Uganda,United Arab Emirates

2016 High School Sponsorship Data Released

From Laxpower.com

Lacrosse at the high school level has grown dramatically since 2001 and continues to expand at a more rapid rate than most other sports. Girls' lacrosse again cracked the top 10 in number of participants, with about 88,000 players at schools covered by the NFHS survey.

Data on school sponsorship and student participation are compiled annually by the National Federation of State High School Associations, and we have created a summary of the NFHS data, which includes both data tables and graphs that present the figures longitudinally.

From 2001 through 2016, the number of high schools sponsoring boys' and girls' lacrosse increased by 193% and 229%, respectively. Over that period, the number of students participating in lacrosse rose by 162% for boys and 172% for girls. For more detailed information, see the full report

Note that the NFHS universe is limited. There are over 1,200 boys' and about 700 girls' lacrosse teams and their participants not included in the totals. In many states, the NFHS umbrella does not include all schools. High schools in states where lacrosse is not officially sanctioned are simply not reflected in NFHS figures.

Quit Hits:

-Southern Miss to Consider Adding New Sport

-Lacrosse May Be Coming to Manatee High School (FL)

-Sports Growth Culminates With Illinois HS Recognition

-Lacrosse Comes to North West Denver

-Growing Lacrosse in Montana

-Birmingham Lacrosse Helping Inner City Kids Go to College

-Taiwan Embracing Lacrosse

-Growth Spurs New Conference in NC High School System

-New Morgan State AD Talks Adding Lacrosse

-Local Teams Happy Ohio HS Association Added Lacrosse

Posted in: Alabama,College,Colorado,Division I,Florida,HBCU,High School,Illinois,Maryland,Mississippi,Montana,North Carolina,Ohio,Participation,Taiwan,Urban Growth

Southern Wesleyan University (DII SC) Adds Women's Lacrosse

CENTRAL, S.C.- The Board of Trustees of Southern Wesleyan University has approved the addition of women’s lacrosse as an intercollegiate sport for the 2016-17 school year. “I am excited to announce that our Board of Trustees has approved the addition of our 18th varsity sport at SWU,” said Southern Wesleyan Director of Athletics Chris Williams.

“A big thank you to President Voss and his cabinet, and to the members of my staff who have worked to gather data, write the pro-forma and to pitch the proposal.”

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Casey Powell Introduces Speed Lacrosse

-Illinois Votes to Sponsor Lacrosse at High School Level

-UGA Football Uses Lacrosse Sticks for Motivation 

-Colorado High School Adds Lacrosse

-Fast Paced Lacrosse Growing in Wisconsin

-Lacrosse Growing in Coronado, TX

-Lacrosse Interest Growing in Kansas

-How A History Making Team Challenges Lacrosse's White Image

-Eastern Washington Girls Club at Forefront of Growth

-Desert Vista, AZ Players Finding Success

Posted in: Arizona,Colorado,Diversity,Division I,Division II,Georgia,High School,Illinois,Kansas,South Carolina,Speed Lacrosse,Texas,Virginia,Washington,Wisconsin

Earlham College (D3 IN) Adds Lacrosse

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Earlham College Athletics Department continues to broaden its programming. Effective in the 2017-18 academic year, Earlham will sponsor men's and women's lacrosse as varsity sports.

"Adding men's and women's lacrosse on campus and to our department allows Earlham to be attractive to yet another population of prospective and current students," Director of Athletics Mike Bergum said. "More varsity lacrosse programs are popping up in the Midwest, and Earlham wants to be part of that progression. The vision on campus is to grow, and adding lacrosse is a great way to move forward."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Lacrosse Gaining Popularity in Lincoln, NE

-Go Fund Me for Hawaiian Lacrosse Team

-Lacrosse Gaining Traction in Kansas City

-Assistant Coach Helping BU Lacrosse Take Next Step

-Lacrosse Finds a Home in Tampa Bay

-Girls Lacrosse Growth in Upstate NY

-Colorado Lacrosse Player Does His Part to Grow Game in Haiti

-Q&A With AD of New Georgia NAIA Program

-Lacrosse Takes Step Forward in Panhandle

-Michigan Community Builds Lacrosse Program

Posted in: College,Colorado,Division I,Division III,Florida,Georgia,Haiti,Hawaii,High School,Indiana,Kansas,Massachusetts,Michigan,Missouri,NAIA,Nebraska,New York,Youth

Juniata College (DIII PA) Adds Women's Lacrosse

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Juniata College has elected to add three new varsity sports to its formidable lineup of athletic programs beginning with the fall 2017 season. The college will be adding men’s and women’s golf, plus women’s lacrosse, giving Juniata 22 varsity intercollegiate sports.

“Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the nation for high schools and colleges and many women are seeking opportunities to extend their careers as athletes while receiving a high quality education,” said athletic director and head coach for men’s basketball Greg Curley. “Adding these sports also will allow us to extend our athletic recruiting beyond our traditional reach into states such as Maryland, New York, Virginia and New Jersey. The demographic profile of athletes playing lacrosse and golf fits our academic profile to a T.”

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Belichick Foundation Donates $5,000 to Oakland Lacrosse

-Minnesota Community Urges School Board to Add Lacrosse

-CityLax Donates Over 600 Helmets to NYC Schools

-New NLL Commissioner Looks to Grow the Game

-Mass. School Adds Freshman Lacrosse

-With Fewer Baseball Players, Portland Little League Consolidates

-Colorado Lacrosse Leaders Building Box Lacrosse

-Help This 'Highest Poverty' San Jose School Get Lacrosse Equipment

Posted in: Box Lacrosse,California,College,Colorado,Division III,High School,Maine,Massachusetts,Minnesota,New York,NLL,Pennsylvania,Urban Growth

Monday Lax Links

-Harlem Lacrosse Program Flourishing 

-Bringing Lacrosse to Harlem (video)

-West Texas Lacrosse Club Gets Off the Ground

-Seattle High School Produces Its First NCAA Committ

-Colorado Town Hopes to Grow Lacrosse Tourney

-US Lacrosse Awards 110 First Stick Programs

-Q&A With B1G Commissioner Jim Delaney 

-Summit Puts Girls Lacrosse Growth in Focus

-Knoxville, TN Program Sets Lacrosse Foundation (video)

-Lacrosse Interest Expanding in Iowa

Posted in: College,Colorado,Conferences,Division III,High School,Iowa,MCLA,New York,Tennessee,Texas,Urban Growth,US Lacrosse,Washington,Youth