BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – With the additions of VMI and Detroit Mercy as associate members, Commissioner Noreen Morris and the Northeast Conference (NEC) announced on Thursday the return of men's lacrosse as a championship sport for the 2024-25 academic year.
VMI and Detroit Mercy will be immediately eligible to compete in the 2025 NEC Men's Lacrosse Championship, with the opportunity to secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. This announcement comes after a two-year lacrosse hiatus for the league. To view the full announcement from the NEC, click here.
"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."
VMI, which began sponsoring men's lacrosse in 1983, is currently an associate member in the MAAC. The Keydets competed in the MAAC from 2003-13, then returned for the 2023 season after spending eight seasons in the Southern Conference.
"VMI is excited to be joining the Northeast Conference as it restarts men's lacrosse in the 2024-25 season," VMI Deputy Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lenny Brown said. "We are appreciative of Commissioner Noreen Morris efforts in reestablishing the sport for the conference and the invitation to be a part of it. We believe this partnership puts VMI lacrosse in the best possible position and look forward to competing as a member of the NEC."
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach James Purpura, the VMI program has witnessed significant growth in recent years. The Keydets are one of six programs nationwide to increase their victory total in each of the last three seasons, culminating in a six-win campaign in 2023, the most for the program in 15 years.
"We are excited as a program to be joining the Northeast Conference," said Purpura. "I want to thank Commissioner Noreen Morris and the rest of the NEC leadership for extending an offer for our program to join such a historically competitive league. As a conference, the NEC has scored multiple NCAA Tournament wins over top seeds in the last decade and provides us with a challenging league schedule. We look forward to playing in some new geographies that will help build a presence for VMI in the Northeast. We will continue to play some of our rivalry games with more geographical opponents and the opportunity to play more out of conference games will allow us to build a competitive out of conference schedule. This is an exciting time for VMI lacrosse to have a new home and another opportunity for us to continue to grow and compete as a program."
The NEC initially sponsored men's lacrosse from 2011 through 2022, and will now recommence with seven competing programs, as core members: Le Moyne, LIU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, and Wagner, being joined by affiliates Detroit Mercy and VMI.
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.
Men's lacrosse has held NCAA championship sport status since 1981. Currently, there are 77 NCAA Division I institutions that sponsor the sport.
