BOSTON, MASS. – The America East Conference announced today the addition of Merrimack College as an associate member in men's lacrosse. The agreement is for the 2023 and 2024 playing seasons.
"America East is excited to welcome Merrimack as an associate member in the sport of men's lacrosse," said America East Commissioner, Brad Walker. "Merrimack has built a competitive men's lacrosse program within our region and will be a great fit for our conference."
Merrimack will become the eighth men's lacrosse sponsoring program in America East joining UAlbany, Binghamton, Bryant, UMBC, UMass Lowell, NJIT and Vermont. The Warriors just completed their third season as a Division I program and have one year left of their NCAA mandated four-year reclassification period. Merrimack will be ineligible for the 2023 America East Championship but will be eligible in 2024.
"Merrimack has built a great tradition in the sport of men's lacrosse and we are grateful to the members of the America East conference in providing this opportunity for our team and student athletes," said Merrimack Director of Athletics,
Jeremy Gibson. "I would specifically like to thank Commissioner Walker for his tremendous support through this process.
America East has enjoyed great success in men's lacrosse historically with 15 wins all-time in NCAA tournament play, including nine in the last 13 years and four different programs having won games in that span. Three teams have reached the quarterfinals and a pair have made it to Championship Weekend, including UAlbany in 2018 and Towson in 2001. Additionally, America East boasts four Tewaaraton Award winners all-time, tied for second-most ever behind only the ACC.
The Warriors started their Division I journey in the Northeast Conference in 2020 after winning back-to-back Division II national championships in 2018 and 2019. Since elevating the program, Merrimack has notched 12 wins, including a victory over the University of Michigan for their first in Division I history. More recently in 2022, the Warriors went 6-6 while playing a high level schedule that included games against four top 25 teams.
"We are excited at the opportunity to play in a great conference like the America East," said head coach
Mike Morgan. "We look forward to competing against programs with rich history and tradition in lacrosse."
Since the year 2000, the Warriors have had 32 All-Americans on the lacrosse field. Continuing the program's success off the field, seven players were honored on the 2022 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-Academic Team. Members of the team are comprised of student-athletes that have excelled both in the classroom and on the field throughout their careers and have a senior or graduate student standing.
About America East
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference consists of nine member institutions, sponsors championships in 18 sports and provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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