Which conferences dominate Division III men’s lacrosse. How do top teams perform in their respective conferences. What factors contribute to success in DIII lacrosse.
The Landscape of Division III Men’s Lacrosse
Division III men’s lacrosse represents a vibrant and competitive level of collegiate athletics, featuring numerous conferences and teams across the United States. This article delves into the various conferences, standout teams, and key factors that shape the DIII lacrosse landscape.
Top Performing Conferences in DIII Men’s Lacrosse
Several conferences stand out for their consistently strong performances in Division III men’s lacrosse:
- Centennial Conference
- New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
- Capital Athletic Conference (CAC)
- Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC)
- Empire 8
These conferences are known for producing highly competitive teams and frequently sending representatives to the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
Centennial Conference Powerhouses
The Centennial Conference boasts some of the most formidable teams in DIII lacrosse. Dickinson College (17-3, 9-1) and Swarthmore College (14-4, 8-2) lead the pack, showcasing the conference’s strength. Gettysburg College (13-5, 6-3) also maintains a strong presence, contributing to the conference’s reputation for excellence.
NESCAC: A Breeding Ground for Champions
The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) is renowned for its high level of play. Tufts University (22-1, 13-0) stands out as a dominant force, while Middlebury College (18-3, 11-2) and Amherst College (12-6, 7-5) further solidify the conference’s status as a lacrosse powerhouse.
Emerging Conferences and Their Impact
While traditional powerhouses continue to dominate, several emerging conferences are making their mark on the DIII lacrosse landscape:
- Landmark Conference
- North Coast Athletic Conference
- Ohio Athletic Conference
These conferences are nurturing talented teams and contributing to the overall growth and competitiveness of Division III lacrosse.
Landmark Conference: Rising Stars
The Landmark Conference features promising teams like Elizabethtown College (12-5, 8-1) and Scranton University (14-6, 8-1), demonstrating the conference’s potential for producing top-tier talent.
Key Factors Contributing to DIII Lacrosse Success
Several factors play crucial roles in determining success at the Division III level:
- Strong recruitment programs
- Experienced coaching staff
- Well-developed team strategies
- Robust athletic facilities
- Supportive academic environments
Teams that excel in these areas often find themselves at the top of their conferences and competing for national recognition.
Notable DIII Men’s Lacrosse Programs
Certain programs have consistently demonstrated excellence in Division III men’s lacrosse:
- Salisbury University (23-1, 5-0)
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) (20-2, 8-0)
- York College of Pennsylvania (15-6, 10-0)
- Stevens Institute of Technology (18-3, 10-0)
These programs have established themselves as perennial contenders, often ranking highly in national polls and making deep runs in the NCAA tournament.
Salisbury University: A Dynasty in the Making
Salisbury University’s men’s lacrosse program has become synonymous with success in Division III. With a remarkable record of 23-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play, Salisbury continues to set the standard for excellence in DIII lacrosse. What makes Salisbury’s program so consistently successful? The combination of top-tier coaching, a winning culture, and a pipeline of talented players contributes to their ongoing dominance.
The Role of Conference Play in DIII Lacrosse
Conference play is a crucial aspect of Division III men’s lacrosse, often determining postseason opportunities and shaping team rankings. How does conference performance impact a team’s national standing?
- Conference champions often receive automatic bids to the NCAA tournament
- Strong in-conference records boost teams’ chances for at-large bids
- Conference play provides a benchmark for comparing teams across regions
Teams that excel in their conferences, such as Tufts University in the NESCAC or York College in the Capital Athletic Conference, often find themselves well-positioned for postseason success.
Challenges Facing DIII Men’s Lacrosse Programs
Despite the overall growth and success of Division III men’s lacrosse, programs face various challenges:
- Limited financial resources compared to Division I and II programs
- Balancing academic commitments with athletic pursuits
- Attracting top talent in a competitive recruitment landscape
- Maintaining facilities and equipment on smaller budgets
How do successful DIII programs overcome these challenges? Many rely on creative fundraising, strong alumni networks, and efficient resource management to build and sustain competitive teams.
The Academic-Athletic Balance in DIII Lacrosse
One of the defining characteristics of Division III athletics is the emphasis on balancing academic and athletic pursuits. How do DIII lacrosse programs support student-athletes in maintaining this balance?
- Flexible practice schedules to accommodate academic commitments
- Academic support services tailored to athletes’ needs
- Coaches who prioritize academic success alongside athletic achievement
This focus on academic-athletic balance contributes to the unique character of DIII lacrosse and helps shape well-rounded student-athletes.
The Future of Division III Men’s Lacrosse
As Division III men’s lacrosse continues to evolve, several trends are shaping its future:
- Increasing parity among conferences and teams
- Growing emphasis on player safety and injury prevention
- Expansion of lacrosse programs to new regions and institutions
- Integration of advanced analytics and technology in coaching and player development
How will these trends impact the competitive landscape of DIII lacrosse in the coming years? As more institutions invest in their lacrosse programs and the sport’s popularity grows, we can expect to see continued evolution in playing styles, recruitment strategies, and overall competitiveness.
Emerging Regions in DIII Lacrosse
While traditional lacrosse hotbeds continue to produce top talent, new regions are emerging as sources of competitive DIII programs. Which areas are seeing growth in DIII men’s lacrosse?
- Midwest: Programs like Illinois Wesleyan University (15-4, 8-0) are making waves
- South: Teams such as Christopher Newport University (18-3, 2-3) are gaining recognition
- West Coast: Although still developing, programs in California and Oregon are on the rise
This geographic expansion contributes to the diversity and depth of talent in Division III lacrosse, creating new rivalries and opportunities for programs across the country.
The Impact of Coaching in DIII Men’s Lacrosse
Coaching plays a crucial role in the success of Division III men’s lacrosse programs. What characteristics define successful DIII lacrosse coaches?
- Ability to recruit and develop talent within the constraints of DIII athletics
- Strong understanding of both lacrosse strategy and the unique challenges of DIII competition
- Commitment to player development both on and off the field
- Adaptability in the face of limited resources and changing competitive landscapes
Coaches who excel in these areas often lead their teams to conference championships and national recognition, shaping the future of their programs and the sport as a whole.
Notable DIII Lacrosse Coaches
Several coaches have made significant impacts on their programs and the broader DIII lacrosse community:
- Jim Berkman (Salisbury University): The winningest coach in NCAA men’s lacrosse history
- Mike Daly (Tufts University): Led Tufts to multiple national championships
- Gene McCabe (Washington and Lee University): Consistently produces competitive teams in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference
These coaches and others like them serve as mentors and innovators, driving the continued growth and development of Division III men’s lacrosse.
The Role of Traditions and Rivalries in DIII Lacrosse
Traditions and rivalries play a significant role in shaping the culture and excitement of Division III men’s lacrosse. How do these elements contribute to the sport’s appeal at the DIII level?
- Long-standing rivalries create intense, high-stakes matchups
- Unique traditions foster team unity and school spirit
- Historic programs with rich legacies inspire current players and attract recruits
From the “Battles of the Chesapeake” between Washington College and Salisbury University to the fierce NESCAC rivalries, these traditions and matchups add depth and excitement to the DIII lacrosse landscape.
Iconic DIII Lacrosse Rivalries
Several rivalries stand out in the world of Division III men’s lacrosse:
- Salisbury vs. Washington College: Known as the “War on the Shore”
- Tufts vs. Middlebury: A clash of NESCAC powerhouses
- RIT vs. Nazareth: A battle for supremacy in the Empire 8
These rivalries not only produce exciting games but also help define the identities of the programs involved, creating lasting memories for players, fans, and alumni.
The Impact of Alumni Support on DIII Lacrosse Programs
Alumni support plays a crucial role in the success and sustainability of Division III men’s lacrosse programs. How do alumni contribute to the growth and development of DIII lacrosse?
- Financial support through donations and fundraising efforts
- Mentorship programs for current players
- Networking opportunities for graduating student-athletes
- Volunteer coaching and program support
Strong alumni networks can provide DIII programs with the resources and support needed to compete at the highest levels, despite the financial constraints often faced by Division III athletics.
Successful Alumni Engagement Strategies
Several DIII lacrosse programs have implemented effective alumni engagement strategies:
- Annual alumni games and events
- Regular communication through newsletters and social media
- Involvement of alumni in recruitment and program development
- Recognition of alumni achievements and contributions to the program
By fostering strong connections with their alumni base, DIII lacrosse programs can build a sustainable foundation for long-term success and growth.
The Role of Technology in DIII Men’s Lacrosse
As technology continues to advance, its impact on Division III men’s lacrosse is becoming increasingly significant. How is technology shaping the sport at the DIII level?
- Video analysis tools for game planning and player development
- Advanced statistics and analytics for performance evaluation
- Social media and digital platforms for recruitment and program promotion
- Virtual reality training systems for off-field skill development
While DIII programs may have more limited resources than their DI counterparts, many are finding innovative ways to leverage technology to improve their competitive edge and enhance the student-athlete experience.
Innovative Uses of Technology in DIII Lacrosse
Several DIII lacrosse programs have embraced technology in unique ways:
- Implementation of wearable devices to track player conditioning and prevent injuries
- Use of drone footage for tactical analysis and field awareness training
- Development of custom mobile apps for team communication and scheduling
These technological innovations are helping DIII lacrosse programs maximize their resources and provide high-quality experiences for their student-athletes.
The Importance of Community Engagement in DIII Lacrosse
Community engagement is a vital aspect of Division III men’s lacrosse programs, reflecting the values and mission of DIII athletics. How do DIII lacrosse teams contribute to their local communities?
- Youth clinics and camps to promote the sport
- Partnerships with local schools and organizations for community service projects
- Fundraising events for charitable causes
- Involvement in local lacrosse leagues and development programs
These community engagement efforts not only benefit the local area but also help build strong connections between the lacrosse program, the institution, and the surrounding community.
Examples of Impactful Community Initiatives
Several DIII lacrosse programs have implemented noteworthy community engagement initiatives:
- Tufts University’s partnership with Team IMPACT, connecting children facing serious illnesses with the lacrosse team
- Washington and Lee University’s annual HEADstrong Foundation fundraiser to support families affected by cancer
- Salisbury University’s “Sea Gull Reader” program, promoting literacy in local elementary schools
These initiatives demonstrate the positive impact that DIII lacrosse programs can have beyond the playing field, embodying the spirit of Division III athletics.
College Lacrosse Conferences | D3
1
alfred state
(0-0)
(0-0)
1
cabrini
(14-5)
(8-0)
2
marymount
(9-10)
(6-3)
3
gwynedd-mercy
(7-9)
(5-2)
4
wesley
(0-0)
(0-0)
5
immaculata
(10-8)
(3-5)
6
marywood
(6-10)
(2-5)
7
neumann
(6-11)
(2-5)
8
centenary
(0-15)
(0-6)
1
dickinson
(17-3)
(9-1)
2
swarthmore
(14-4)
(8-2)
3
gettysburg
(13-5)
(6-3)
4
muhlenberg
(11-6)
(5-4)
5
franklin and marshall
(9-8)
(5-5)
6
haverford
(5-10)
(3-5)
7
washington college
(8-9)
(2-6)
8
ursinus
(7-8)
(2-6)
9
McDaniel
(7-10)
(0-8)
1
salisbury
(23-1)
(5-0)
2
christopher newport
(18-3)
(2-3)
3
stockton
(12-6)
(1-2)
4
mary washington
(6-11)
(0-3)
1
western new england
(12-9)
(10-1)
2
endicott
(13-5)
(9-1)
3
salve regina
(11-7)
(7-3)
4
roger williams
(9-7)
(5-4)
5
nichols
(11-8)
(5-5)
6
curry
(5-11)
(2-6)
7
univ of new england
(8-10)
(2-7)
8
wentworth tech
(5-11)
(2-7)
9
gordon
(3-12)
(0-8)
1
illinois wesleyan
(15-4)
(8-0)
2
North Central College
(10-6)
(5-2)
3
transylvania
(6-11)
(5-3)
4
carroll
(0-0)
(0-0)
5
carthage
(11-6)
(3-4)
6
Elmhurst
(10-5)
(2-4)
7
augustana
(6-10)
(1-5)
8
Carroll (Wisc.
)
(3-14)
(0-6)
1
rosemont
(6-9)
(6-0)
2
cairn
(6-7)
(4-2)
3
montclair state
(10-8)
(1-0)
4
kean
(11-7)
(0-1)
5
bryn athyn
(4-6)
(2-4)
6
keystone
(0-13)
(0-6)
1
saint john fisher
(10-10)
(8-0)
2
alfred
(11-5)
(5-2)
3
nazareth
(10-9)
(5-3)
4
elmira
(0-0)
(0-0)
5
Houghton
(0-0)
(0-0)
6
hartwick
(6-6)
(3-4)
7
utica college
(7-10)
(2-4)
8
sage
(6-11)
(1-5)
9
keuka
(6-7)
(0-6)
1
emmanuel
(16-6)
(12-1)
2
lasell
(11-7)
(9-3)
3
rivier
(12-4)
(8-3)
4
saint joseph’s (me)
(10-8)
(8-3)
5
univ. of saint joseph
(11-9)
(7-6)
6
dean
(10-6)
(6-6)
7
mount ida
(0-0)
(0-0)
8
johnson and wales
(10-7)
(5-6)
9
norwich
(6-12)
(4-7)
10
albertus magnus
(8-8)
(2-8)
11
anna maria
(2-15)
(1-9)
12
regis
(3-11)
(0-10)
1
colorado college
(8-6)
(4-0)
2
anderson
(7-5)
(5-2)
3
hanover
(7-8)
(5-2)
4
southwestern
(9-9)
(4-2)
5
dallas
(0-0)
(0-0)
6
earlham
(4-8)
(2-3)
7
mount st joseph
(2-11)
(2-4)
8
centenary college (la)
(2-10)
(2-5)
9
lindenwood
(0-14)
(0-6)
1
elizabethtown
(12-5)
(8-1)
2
scranton
(14-6)
(8-1)
3
catholic
(6-10)
(5-3)
4
susquehanna
(10-8)
(4-4)
5
moravian
(7-8)
(3-4)
6
goucher
(5-11)
(2-5)
7
drew
(6-10)
(1-6)
8
Juniata
(3-13)
(0-7)
1
rit
(20-2)
(8-0)
2
rpi
(9-7)
(6-2)
3
union
(12-6)
(5-3)
4
bard
(0-0)
(0-0)
5
saint lawrence
(12-6)
(4-5)
6
skidmore
(10-6)
(3-4)
7
clarkson
(11-5)
(3-5)
8
ithaca
(7-8)
(2-5)
9
vassar
(7-9)
(0-7)
1
western connecticut
(16-5)
(9-1)
2
plymouth state
(14-4)
(7-3)
3
umass-boston
(12-7)
(7-3)
4
keene state
(9-7)
(7-3)
5
mass maritime
(8-7)
(5-4)
6
umass-dartmouth
(0-0)
(0-0)
7
eastern connecticut
(6-11)
(3-6)
8
southern maine
(4-12)
(2-6)
9
castleton state
(4-13)
(1-7)
10
salem state
(1-16)
(0-8)
1
york
(15-6)
(10-0)
2
stevenson
(11-8)
(8-2)
3
eastern
(9-9)
(6-3)
4
widener
(9-9)
(6-4)
5
messiah
(11-7)
(4-5)
6
hood
(9-7)
(3-5)
7
lebanon valley
(8-9)
(2-6)
8
albright
(3-14)
(1-7)
9
alvernia
(4-12)
(0-8)
1
stevens tech
(18-3)
(10-0)
2
desales
(10-8)
(8-2)
3
arcadia
(7-10)
(6-3)
4
misericordia
(10-9)
(6-4)
5
lycoming
(6-11)
(3-5)
6
fdu-florham
(7-11)
(3-6)
7
delaware valley
(6-11)
(2-6)
8
Wilkes
(4-13)
(2-6)
9
king’s college
(0-15)
(0-8)
1
albion
(14-5)
(7-1)
2
hope
(13-6)
(7-1)
3
adrian
(9-8)
(4-3)
4
olivet
(0-0)
(0-0)
5
Kalamazoo
(7-8)
(3-4)
6
calvin
(7-10)
(2-4)
7
trine
(8-5)
(1-5)
8
Alma
(1-11)
(0-6)
1
lake forest
(13-5)
(7-0)
2
dubuque
(10-8)
(5-2)
3
Northland
(5-8)
(3-3)
4
fontbonne
(0-0)
(0-0)
5
north central univ.
(mn)
(0-0)
(0-0)
6
cornell college
(5-11)
(2-4)
7
northwestern (mn)
(3-9)
(2-5)
8
monmouth illinois
(1-11)
(0-5)
1
saint mary’s (md)
(15-6)
(7-0)
2
morrisville
(8-5)
(4-2)
3
penn college
(11-7)
(3-3)
4
medaille
(2-12)
(1-1)
5
hilbert
(3-9)
(3-4)
6
wells
(1-8)
(1-3)
7
la roche
(0-12)
(0-6)
1
tufts
(22-1)
(13-0)
2
middlebury
(18-3)
(11-2)
3
amherst
(12-6)
(7-5)
4
williams
(10-8)
(7-5)
5
bowdoin
(11-5)
(6-5)
6
trinity (ct)
(8-8)
(5-6)
7
wesleyan
(8-7)
(4-6)
8
hamilton
(7-8)
(4-7)
9
connecticut college
(6-8)
(4-7)
10
colby
(4-10)
(1-9)
11
bates
(1-12)
(0-10)
1
new england college
(6-13)
(5-0)
2
becker
(0-0)
(0-0)
3
newbury
(0-0)
(0-0)
4
eastern nazarene
(3-8)
(2-3)
5
mitchell
(0-14)
(0-4)
1
babson
(13-5)
(8-0)
2
springfield
(6-10)
(5-2)
3
mit
(12-6)
(5-3)
4
clark
(5-9)
(3-4)
5
coast guard
(6-9)
(3-5)
6
emerson
(5-12)
(1-5)
7
wheaton
(6-10)
(0-6)
1
maine maritime
(14-4)
(11-0)
2
suny poly
(10-5)
(8-2)
3
suny delhi
(8-8)
(7-3)
4
suny canton
(6-9)
(5-4)
5
husson
(9-8)
(5-5)
6
green mountain
(0-0)
(0-0)
7
johnson state
(0-0)
(0-0)
8
suny cobleskill
(8-5)
(3-5)
9
thomas
(4-8)
(3-5)
10
massachusetts cla
(6-9)
(2-7)
11
cazenovia
(0-7)
(0-6)
12
nvu-lyndon
(1-8)
(1-8)
1
denison
(17-4)
(9-1)
2
kenyon
(15-3)
(8-2)
3
ohio wesleyan
(12-5)
(7-2)
4
wooster
(13-4)
(5-4)
5
allegheny
(8-8)
(1-1)
6
wittenberg
(7-8)
(4-4)
7
oberlin
(8-8)
(4-5)
8
depauw
(7-9)
(2-6)
9
wabash
(7-8)
(1-7)
10
hiram
(5-12)
(0-9)
1
aurora
(15-5)
(10-0)
2
illinois tech
(10-6)
(7-3)
3
concordia
(11-6)
(6-3)
4
milwaukee engineering
(8-7)
(5-3)
5
Benedictine
(5-12)
(5-4)
6
edgewood
(6-10)
(3-5)
7
marian
(9-7)
(2-6)
8
Beloit
(2-12)
(1-7)
9
concordia-chicago
(0-14)
(0-8)
1
baldwin wallace
(16-3)
(10-1)
2
john carroll
(15-3)
(10-1)
3
capital
(13-5)
(8-3)
4
Ohio Northern
(12-6)
(7-4)
5
otterbein
(6-11)
(5-5)
6
muskingum
(7-9)
(3-6)
7
marietta
(5-10)
(3-6)
8
mount union
(6-11)
(3-7)
9
heidelberg
(4-11)
(1-8)
10
wilmington
(3-13)
(0-9)
1
washington and lee
(18-5)
(9-2)
2
lynchburg
(15-7)
(9-2)
3
hampden-sydney
(13-5)
(8-2)
4
randolph-macon
(12-6)
(7-3)
5
roanoke
(11-8)
(6-4)
6
bridgewater
(8-8)
(4-5)
7
shenandoah
(9-10)
(5-6)
8
guilford
(7-8)
(2-7)
9
virginia wesleyan
(6-10)
(2-7)
10
randolph
(2-14)
(1-7)
11
ferrum
(3-11)
(0-8)
1
grove city
(11-9)
(7-0)
2
saint vincent
(15-3)
(7-2)
3
westminster (PA)
(10-7)
(4-3)
4
washington and jefferson
(4-6)
(1-1)
5
chatham
(6-10)
(3-3)
6
thiel
(4-8)
(2-4)
7
franciscan
(6-7)
(1-5)
8
bethany
(5-10)
(0-7)
1
new york maritime
(13-6)
(8-1)
2
us merchant marine
(10-7)
(7-1)
3
farmingdale
(13-3)
(4-3)
4
manhattanville
(7-9)
(3-4)
5
mount st mary
(5-8)
(3-4)
6
st.
joseph’s college (NY)
(1-5)
(1-3)
7
purchase
(6-10)
(2-5)
8
mount saint vincent
(4-11)
(0-7)
1
centre
(13-4)
(7-1)
2
sewanee
(11-5)
(6-2)
3
rhodes
(12-6)
(5-3)
4
birmingham southern
(10-7)
(5-3)
5
berry
(6-7)
(2-5)
6
hendrix
(6-11)
(1-6)
7
oglethorpe
(3-9)
(0-6)
1
jwu-denver
(0-0)
(0-0)
1
suny geneseo
(15-5)
(9-0)
2
suny cortland
(13-5)
(7-2)
3
oswego state
(7-6)
(5-3)
4
suny new paltz
(8-7)
(4-4)
5
oneonta state
(7-7)
(3-4)
6
brockport
(4-10)
(2-5)
7
potsdam state
(7-8)
(1-6)
8
plattsburgh
(2-13)
(0-7)
1
pfeiffer
(16-2)
(8-1)
2
southern virginia
(9-8)
(8-2)
3
piedmont
(11-6)
(7-2)
4
methodist
(6-10)
(6-5)
5
lagrange
(7-9)
(4-5)
6
william peace
(7-8)
(4-6)
7
greensboro
(4-10)
(2-4)
8
averett
(3-11)
(0-2)
9
huntingdon
(5-10)
(2-6)
10
brevard
(3-12)
(0-8)
NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Division II, III Championships: Merrimack, Cabrini win titles
PHILADELPHIA, P.
A. — With the men’s Division I champion being crowned on Monday, it was the Division II and Division III teams that took the stage in front of 18,702 at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
Division II National Championship
In their last game as a Division II program, the Merrimack Warriors completed a “poetic” run, as head coach Mike Morgan would call it, to their second straight Division II national championship with a 16-8 win over the Limestone Saints.
After Limestone tied the game at three early in the second quarter, the Warriors went on a 7-0 run to break the game up with a 10-3 lead under a minute into the third quarter.
The Saints made things interesting for the remainder of the quarter as they went on a 4-0 run to cut the Warrior lead to 10-7. But junior Charlie Bertrand, the Division II recipient of the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Outstanding Player of the Year and Lt. Col. JI Turnbull Outstanding Attackman of the Year awards, ended the Limestone run with two straight goals, including a behind-the-back tally.
Merrimack scored four more times in the quarter to double up the Saints.
“The story of this team the whole year is just that we have been battling adversity,” Bertrand said. “We have gone through a lot of stuff that’s built us as a team, and when Limestone went on that run, we knew we had to just do the same thing we have been doing, stick to what makes us good, play as a team and play together, just like we did in the couple other NCAA games. If you go down a few goals, you just keep playing, you don’t want to go out of your role.”
The “poetic” national title run was a rough and tough one. The Warriors may have been lucky from the recent expansion of the Division II Tournament to 12 teams. Merrimack was the No. 6 and final seed in the North Region and had to face the top four teams in the latest USILA poll. The “Six Train” destroyed No. 3 seed Mercyhurst in the first round in their first ever matchup. The Warriors held off NE10 rival Adelphi, a team they lost to by nine in the regular season, by two goals before winning a wild thriller against fellow NE10 rival Le Moyne in overtime.
Beating Limestone was revenge for the team’s 2017 national championship loss to the Saints.
“I said to the guys before, you guys are writing the story,” Morgan said. “This is the end, so you write it how you want it. They did. This season will go down as something special. Last year a lot of things broke our way last year, and not that it wasn’t sweet, but when you win by kind of what we won by last year, things broke your way, it’s the first time, so you’re excited but I felt like we earned this year, really earned this year.
“These guys didn’t quit from day one. We were tough on them, really tough on them, and I think they just kept plugging along, like these guys said, and here we are.”
The Warriors will become members of Division I and the Northeast Conference on July 1. At the end of the game, Christian Thomas didn’t fling the game ball up in the air. He gave it to Morgan as a symbol of their end in Division II. But despite the move, the program’s culture won’t change.
“We have always been built on hard work, selflessness, confidence,” Morgan said. “Our level is middle, middle high Division I already, so I don’t think we’re changing much in terms of the structure, but the quality and what made us good in DII will certainly be what make us good in DI.
“You have to have guys that are bought into what you’re doing, bought into loving the program, the school, and being hard working. That doesn’t change in Division I. You will see better competition. But for us it’s knowing you’ve got to work, you’ve got to grind. We got a team that just grinded their way all the way to a national championship as a sixth seed. On the road four times, if you count today as a road game.
“At the end of the day, we’ve been running this thing for the last eight or nine years with a Division I model, so for us, it’s taking the good qualities of DII but also knowing that there are some opportunities when we move to DI with the type of teams we will be playing and the publicity and whatnot.
”
MERRIMACK STATS
A Charlie Bertrand (4 Gs, 3 As, 3 GBs)
A Sean Black (2 Gs, 3 As, 1 GB)
M Dan Thomas (3 Gs, 1 A, 2 GBs)
A Christian Thomas (3 Gs, 1 A)
M Max Morrill (2 As, 1 GB)
M Michael O’Connell (1 G, 1 GB)
M Seamus Ford (1 G, 1 GB)
M Drew Hailey (1 G)
A Tyler Liantonio (1 G)
D Carlin Joyal (1 CT, 4 GBs)
D Nicholas Perez-Blanco (1 CT, 3 GBs)
D Alex Marceau (1 CT, 1 GB)
M Brennan McInnis (1 CT, 1 GB)
FOGO Davis Cronin (18-of-27 FOs, 11 GBs)
G Nick Ponte (12 saves, 2 GBs)
Postgame press conference from @MerrimackMLAX. https://t.co/EGAOe6JbsS
— College Crosse (@College_Crosse) May 26, 2019
LIMESTONE STATS
M Tyler Papa (2 Gs, 3 As)
A Larson Sundown (3 Gs)
A Brian Huyghue (2 Gs, 1 GB, 1 CT)
A Matt Bennett (1 G, 1 A, 3 GBs)
M Clark Walter (2 As, 1 GB)
M Jeremy Burns (2 As)
M Dylan Brown (1 CT, 1 GB)
FOGO Dakota Kirsch-Downs (7-of-17 FOs, 4 GBs)
FOGO Christopher Parrott (2-of-10 FOs, 1 GB)
G Danny Foren (16 saves, 2 GBs, 1 CT)
Postgame press conference from @LimestoneLax.
https://t.co/P8vhAwfJdI
— College Crosse (@College_Crosse) May 26, 2019
https://t.co/P8vhAwfJdIDivision III National Championship
In the battle of two first timers, the hometown Cabrini Cavaliers ended the day 1-0 for the 22nd time in 2019 as they defeated the Amherst Mammoths 16-12 for their first ever national championship. But Cabrini head coach Steve Colfer thought luck would be on their side on Saturday at the Division I semifinals.
“I didn’t realize the section when we went to the banquet on Friday night. They [staffers at the NCAA Tournament] said ‘okay after the Fanfest, you’re going to go in and your teams will be sitting in Section 108. That’s where we have reserved for the DIII teams to watch the DI game.’ And I go to my seat and I’m sitting there and I turn and I said, oh my God, I got a really eerie feeling right now, and they said why? One row in front, three seats down is the seat I sat in to watch the Eagles beat the Vikings to go to the Super Bowl in 2018.
“I had just told [Philadelphia Eagles center] Jason Kelce that out on the field. He is a big supporter of Cabrini lacrosse. His wife went to Cabrini and she worked in our athletic department for a number of years, and Kelce has been around our guys, spoken to the guys and is good friends with a bunch of guys on our team, and I told him that and he was laughing, and he said, that’s a pretty good omen, that’s a pretty good omen.”
The Cavaliers got off to a slow start. Amherst began the game with two goals before the teams would alternate tallies. But the Mammoths would end the alternating pattern with a two-goal run in under a minute from Matt Solberg and Jon Coffey before the Cavaliers scored three straight to tie the game at six heading into halftime.
Jackson Herrick gave Amherst the lead back to begin the third quarter. Cabrini would score two straight goals to give them their first lead of the day with 11:36 left in the third before Evan Wolf tied the game back up at eight.
The teams would alternate goals once more, but the Cavaliers found an opening by scoring seven of the final 10 goals to take the win, including a three-goal run to begin the final quarter that began from Kyle Tucker, who was named the Most Outstanding Player. Timmy Brooks, who was cleared to fully play last night after suffering a broken collarbone, scored the eventual game-winning goal as well as another in the final quarter.
“It’s an unreal feeling,” Tucker said. “I didn’t have words to describe it when I was out on the field. All I could do is put my hands on my head and think about how unbelievable this experience is.”
It was the first time a school from the Philadelphia area as well as from the entire state of Pennsylvania won a national championship in men’s lacrosse.
“There are so many great coaches in this city at the high school level, at the college level, and at the youth level,” said Cabrini head coach Steve Colfer.
“I grew up in West Chester and started playing youth lacrosse there and after college came back to this area and played in summer leagues and men’s leagues and got coaching at Cabrini and have been mentored by so many of these guys. And to be able to do something like that, it’s unreal. It’s a tribute to all those guys. I learn, I try to really work at this, and if someone is talking about lacrosse, I’m going to go listen.
“To see teams break through and to get to this championship weekend is huge, and then to ultimately get a national championship is huge. So if there’s anyone out there thinking, I don’t know if we’re doing it right, if we’re recruiting the right kids, I don’t know if I have the right support. You gotta be persistent. You gotta plant your flag somewhere in life and work hard around it, and I really believe if you do that the potential is there for you in your program. Hopefully all those guys in Philly own a little piece of this, because it’s special to do that.
”
So with Cabrini getting their championship, Colfer is putting pressure on Kelce to do the same.
“I told him as I’m walking out, ‘okay now the ball is back in your court. The Eagles have to go back and get us another Super Bowl next year.’ And he looked at me and laughed, but he didn’t say no.”
CABRINI STATS
A Jordan Krug (2 Gs, 3 As, 3 GBs)
A Kyle Tucker (3 Gs, 1 A, 1 GB)
A Bill Morgan (3 Gs)
M Tyler Kostack (2 Gs)
A Timmy Brooks (2 Gs)
M Mike Gerzabek (2 As)
LSM Kyle Myers (1 G, 4 GBs)
M Sean Wagner (1 G, 3 GBs, 3 CTs)
M Kevin Leyden (1 G, 1 GB)
D Tommy DeLuca (1 CT, 5 GBs)
D Kevin Delaney (1 CT, 1 GB)
SSDM Robert Cressman (1 CT, 4 GBs)
FOGO Luke McCallion (14-of-26 FOs, 4 GBs)
FOGO Jake Huey (2-of-4 FOs, 1 GB, 1 G)
G Riley White (11 saves, 2 GBs, 2 CTs)
Postgame press conference from @CabriniMLAX.
— College Crosse (@College_Crosse) May 26, 2019
https://t.co/hTWMCZC8D6AMHERST STATS
M Matt Solberg (2 Gs, 2 As)
A Evan Wolf (2 Gs, 1 A, 3 GBs)
M PJ Clementi (3 As)
A Jon Coffey (2 Gs, 5 GBs, 1 CT)
M Jackson Herrick (2 Gs, 2 GBs)
M Brogan Mahon (1 G, 1 A, 1 GB)
M Grant Chryssicas (2 As, 4 GBs, 1 CT)
A Colin Minicus (1 G, 3 GBs, 1 CT)
M Jack Norton (1 G, 1 GB)
A Dylan Peabody (1 G)
D Rod Castro (1 CT, 1 GB)
M Trenton Shore (1 CT, 1 GB)
LSM Luke Mallette (1 CT, 1 GB)
LSM James Crovatto (1 CT)
FOGO Dylan Finazzo (10-of-22 FOs, 3 GBs)
FOGO Juan Gonzalez (4-of-8 FOs)
G Gib Versfeld (9 saves, 2 GBs)
Postgame press conference from @AmherstLacrosse.
— College Crosse (@College_Crosse) May 26, 2019
https://t.co/NPXHY9X28Vhow to get – EducationUSA Russia
Student sports are a popular spectacle, a source of pride, a source of income and one of the factors of prestige for universities in the United States. It’s no surprise that more than a thousand American colleges and universities offer a variety of financial support options for talented athletes who play for college teams. In this article, we will talk about how to get a higher education in the USA for free with a sports scholarship, what sports have such opportunities, and how the admission process is built.
Higher education in the US is paid, but many universities are willing to partially or even fully compensate talented and/or needy students. One of such support tools is a sports scholarship.
Let’s make a reservation right away that less than 2% of high school athletes receive sports scholarships. However, the total allocated amount is rather big, more than $2.
7 billion per year. Sports scholarships can be obtained at more than 1,000 universities that are members of university sports associations. At the same time, many universities also offer other options for choosing financial assistance to promising applicants-athletes if they cannot provide them with a full sports scholarship.
Which universities can offer sports scholarships?
University sports associations supervise sports competitions between universities. They also determine the requirements for student athletes admitted to competitions, for sports scholarships and other types of financial support that universities can give to their student athletes.
College Athletic Associations:
- The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) unites 1,100 universities and supports 24 sports.
- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has 249 member organizations and supports 17 sports.
- National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) unites 525 community colleges, supports 16 sports.
Associations distinguish 3 divisions for each discipline. A university, a member of the Association, may be included in different divisions in different disciplines. The division into divisions depends on the budget allocated by the educational institution for this sport. On the website of each association, you can find information about which universities are included in them, in which disciplines and in which division.
Types of Athletic Scholarships
There are two types of Athletic Scholarships in the USA:
- A full-ride scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, food, training materials and sometimes medical insurance.
- Partial scholarship (partial scholarship) covers only the cost of training – in whole or in part.
Only Division I colleges and universities can pay full athletic scholarships. There are 363 NCAA Division I universities in the United States – they have the largest sports budgets and provide the most scholarships compared to other division levels.
Universities of the II Division can pay only a partial sports scholarship.
Ivy League and Division III universities do not provide athletic scholarships, but may provide financial support on other grounds such as need-based. For those who are determined to enter the most prestigious programs of the NCAA Division I and II, it makes sense to take a closer look at the Division III. According to the NCAA, 80% of Division III athletes receive some form of financial aid from universities.
In which sports are sports scholarships awarded?
Student athletes have the most opportunities in the most popular and spectator sports that bring the most revenue to universities. These are American football and basketball for men and basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and tennis for women. The NCAA calls these sports “headcount”.
Other sports are called equivalency. Priority equivalent sports are baseball, rowing, skiing, fencing, golf, gymnastics, running, lacrosse, etc.
Division I equivalent sports for men include baseball, shooting, skiing, cross country running, track and field, football, fencing, swimming, golf, tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, hockey, water polo, lacrosse and wrestling. For Division I women, equivalent sports include bowling, lacrosse, rowing, cross country, track and field, skiing, fencing, soccer, field hockey, softball, golf, swimming, ice hockey, and water polo. All Division II and NAIA sports are equivalent sports.
For equivalent sports, the coach himself distributes the amount of his scholarship fund among the wards. He can distribute them to the most promising athletes equally or in different shares, or even give 90% of the total amount to the most star player in order to pay for his education as much as possible.
Those who play an important role in the team, such as a baseball or softball pitcher, are more likely to increase scholarships in equivalent sports. And in some cases, you can find the best offer in another division.
In some cases, the coach and the administration of the university may offer the student the option of additional assistance: a partial sports scholarship plus other support offered by the university, for example, as a student in need or for his academic merit.
How long is the sports scholarship?
Sports scholarships are most often issued only for a year, extremely rarely – for all 4 years of a bachelor’s degree. Every year, the coach evaluates his wards and makes a new decision on issuing a sports scholarship. He can either increase the size of the scholarship, reduce it, or even withdraw it altogether.
A student may lose his scholarship if he is injured, performs poorly in competitions, has a bad relationship with a coach, or because of poor academic performance or a bad reputation in a university or team.
At the same time, the coach may also revise the amount of assistance upwards if the athlete has shown good results, involvement, excitement, or has taken a more important role in the team.
Requirements for student athletes
Each association has its own requirements for athletes. The level of education and academic performance, the results of standardized tests (SAT) and foreign language tests (TOEFL) are assessed.
Associations have special selection centers – Eligibility Center. All athletes planning to participate in competitions from their university must be registered by the Association, which includes their university. Registration is required for all student athletes, not just those who want to receive a sports scholarship.
Associations charge a fee for consideration of the application and may well refuse if the package of documents is incomplete or the student does not meet all the requirements.
How to get a sports scholarship?
It is best to start preparing for admission to an American university two years before graduation. Then you will have enough time to find suitable options, create your sports resume, make friends with coaches, improve your knowledge of English and other subjects to the required level, successfully pass the required tests (TOEFL / IELTS, SAT / ACT) and complete all the necessary documentation.
Here are some important steps in preparing for admission to an American university with the help of an athletic scholarship.
Make a list of suitable universities.
At the first stage, study the websites of associations, look at the level of games and the results of sports competitions of universities in the sport of interest. Evaluate in advance which division you can apply for.
Association websites have a search for universities that you should consider for admission if you want to compete in student competitions and get a scholarship. When selecting, take into account not only the athletic achievements of student teams in your sport, but also other factors – location and suitable undergraduate programs.
List about 50 universities.
Check your eligibility for University Sports Associations.
Review all Association requirements, whether you qualify and what you need to do to meet them.
Associations set the number of core high school subjects student-athletes must take, the minimum GPA in those subjects, the minimum SAT/ACT and TOEFL/IELTS test scores for international students.
Due to Covid, both universities and the Association temporarily canceled the requirement to take SAT / ACT tests, but in the future they may return it.
Assess your athletic level
This is quite a challenge. So, American students specially attend sports camps in order to better determine their capabilities. But in another country, you can contact your coaches or other sports specialists.
Create a sports resume
Sports resume should include:
- Video highlights or skills;
- Sports statistics;
- Certificate of the current level of education and academic performance, knowledge of the language.
The good reputation of an athlete is of great importance. Coaches and members of the admissions committee will definitely look through the social networks of applicants. Check all your social media accounts to make sure you don’t have any inappropriate or questionable content.
Contact and keep in touch with university coaches
On the websites of universities you can find contacts of head coaches, assistant coaches and recruitment coordinators: phone numbers and e-mail.
NSCA recommends contacting coaches via email for the first time. Design your letter so that it stands out. In the subject, briefly indicate your graduation year, sports position, location, achievement. In the letter, provide links to the video and give all possible data so that the trainer can conduct an initial assessment.
Do not send mass mailing to coaches, send each letter separately. It will be a plus to indicate why you are interested in the team of this university. Do not write during the competition. If you receive letters with clarifying questions in response, try to answer as quickly as possible.
In any case, experts advise in about two weeks to contact in person, by phone, with the coaches to whom you sent your resume and clarify whether they are interested. They receive hundreds of emails every week and may well miss yours. When calling, be sure to consider time zones.
The selection process is quite lengthy. In the process of communicating with coaches, you will understand who is interested and who is not and shorten the list of promising universities.
Not all trainers’ offers are accompanied by a scholarship. A coach may offer you Preferred Walk-On status – a guaranteed place on the team, but not an athletic scholarship.
But even a verbal offer of a scholarship by trainers is also not a guarantee of a scholarship. The decisive document is the National Letter of Intent (NLI, National Letter of Intent. Each of the Associations has its own versions of such a letter.
Prepare documents
Collect and prepare all documents for the university and associations. The package of documents may differ depending on the requirements of a particular institution.
Academic performance is confirmed by a transcript of a certificate of secondary education or completion of the previous academic level (translated and certified). This document includes a list of subjects studied, indicating the number of hours and grades for each quarter (semester or half year). NAIA and NJCAA require foreign applicants to confirm their level of education through the InCred service.
This service costs 95 USD for those who have just finished school, or 190 USD for those who have already studied at the university. You may also need test scores, family financial documents, an essay, recommendations from teachers and coaches, etc.
Evaluate/Compare Offers
If you received sports scholarship offers from different universities, compare packages. Perhaps if the university does not have the opportunity to give a full scholarship, they can make up the difference with the help of other forms of support.
International students have good chances in sports such as tennis, athletics, ice hockey, golf, field hockey, football, water polo and basketball. There are over 20,000 international students registered with the NCAA alone. So you can become one of them in the future.
Russian Championship. 3rd division. “Tyumen-double” – “Tobol” (Kurgan)
Football – First League
July 17, 19:00
Tyumen
Khimki
Football.
First League. FC Tyumen – FC Khimki
Football – Friendly match
June 24
Tyumen
2
Uralets-TS
90 002
1
Football. Friendly match. FC Tyumen – Uralets-TS
Football – FNL-2. Group 4
June 4
Novosibirsk
Tyumen
2
Football. FNL-2. Group “4”. FC Novosibirsk – FC Tyumen
Football – FNL-2. Group 4
May 28
Tyumen
7
Chelyabinsk
Football. FNL-2. Group “4”. FC Tyumen – FC Chelyabinsk
Football – FNL-2. Group 4
May 21
Amkar-Perm
Tyumen
2
Football. FNL-2. Group “4”. FC “Amkar-Perm” – FC “Tyumen”
Volleyball – Transitional matches
17 May
“Stroitel”
1
“Tyumen” Transition matches. VC “Stroitel” – VC “Tyumen”
Volleyball – Transitional matches
May 16
“Stroitel”
1
“Tyumen”
3
Volleyball.
