BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (10/11/2023) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse program has accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference (NEC), starting with the 2025 season.
After a two-year hiatus, NEC commissioner Noreen Morris today announced that the NEC will reinstate men's lacrosse as the league's 25th championship sport for the 2024-25 academic year.
The league will feature five full-time members in Le Moyne, LIU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, and Wagner, along with affiliates Detroit Mercy and VMI. The conference winner will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
"I am absolutely thrilled to announce the return of men's lacrosse next season," said Morris. "As we reflected on our past successes and the pivotal role men's lacrosse has played in our conference's identity, it became evident that this sport is deeply ingrained in our NEC community. I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Detroit Mercy and VMI. Their commitment to join us has been instrumental in our ability to resurrect NEC men's lacrosse. Together, we're paving the way for an exciting new journey, and I eagerly anticipate crowning a men's lacrosse champion in 2025."
"I would like to thank the Northeast Conference for extending the invitation to help build its new lacrosse conference," said Detroit Mercy Director of Athletics
Robert C. Vowels, Jr. "The NEC has a strong athletic tradition and is stationed in cities where the sport is vibrant at the prep level, and the opportunity to build recruiting ties for the University on the East Coast is a great asset."
Detroit Mercy launched its men's lacrosse program in 2009, initially competing in the MAAC from 2010-21 before transitioning to the ASUN for the 2022 season. The Titans claimed the MAAC title and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2013, and advanced to the MAAC championship game in 2011 and 2018.
"The NEC was always a blue-collar, competitive conference that had success on the national level at times," said head coach
Chris Kolon '09 (MBA). "The opportunity to battle schools from the East Coast will only benefit our alumni ties and overall program, and we look forward to competing for a NEC title and a chance to represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament."
NEC men's lacrosse enjoyed a significant amount of national acclaim during its initial 11-year run, highlighted by four NCAA Tournament wins and nine USILA All-Americans. Bryant helped put NEC men's lax on the map with a landmark win in 2014, ousting No. 2 Syracuse from the NCAA Tournament with a 10-9 victory.
"We have been privileged to play in a couple of great conferences in the MAAC and ASUN in our history," said coach Kolon. "I want to thank the ASUN for providing a great home for our program and giving us a chance to compete for a NCAA bid these two seasons, and we are excited and looking forward to our new home in the NEC."
About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 43rd season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout five states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#34) and Syracuse (#85). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 24 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 15 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Central Connecticut, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league's official website official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.
