FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Conference Season to Begin on March 20.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Men's lacrosse in the Northeast-10 Conference, a perennial power across the country in Division II, had its season cancelled like other spring sports in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning on March 20, however, lacrosse is back.
The NE10 has released its 2021 men's lacrosse schedule, which features 10 conference games for each program. Opponents vary in order to address both interstate travel restrictions and an uneven number of men's lacrosse teams in the league. Click here for the full schedule.
All scheduled games are subject to change based on COVID-19 health and safety protocol.
The dates for the NE10 Men's Lacrosse Championship will be announced in March, as will the procedure for tournament seeding and playoff structure.
"Announcing our NE10 competition schedules marks another step on our road to resumption of play next month," said NE10 Commissioner Julie Ruppert. "Our spring sport schedules have been reimagined from previous years and represent a Conference-wide philosophy to maximize competitive opportunities while responsibly managing and minimizing travel time and exposure off campus. Our teams will be focused more than ever on NE10 play as intra-Conference games will comprise the vast majority of teams' competitive schedules."
In accordance with the announcement made by the NE10 Council of Presidents on Monday, Feb. 15, league institutions will have the autonomy to determine if they cannot safely participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring and in which sports they will not permit competition.
All teams will be subject to follow NE10 COVID-19 testing protocols, in addition to health and safety guidelines from their institutions and local communities. The safety and well-being of student-athletes remains the primary focus of the league.
"The unique approach to scheduling in 2021 adheres to the guidelines set forth by our Council of Presidents last week in approving our return to competition and for now is our new normal," said Ruppert. "Many individuals across our membership have worked cooperatively to chart this safe and responsible pathway forward for the spring sports and we are so appreciative of their efforts."
A remarkable seven teams in the NE10 have been recognized in the most recent United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) national rankings – including Le Moyne holding down the top spot. As they enter the 2021 season at No. 1, the Dolphins have won a league-record 14 NE10 titles and are five-time NCAA Division II champions.
Adelphi (No. 6) and Pace (No. 12) also landed in the Top 25, while Saint Anselm came in at No. 19 in the poll. Bentley, Assumption and Saint Rose are all receiving votes in the USILA rankings.
Opening day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20. The entire schedule consists of 11 playing dates, one of which remains open for each team, and concludes on Saturday, April 24. Le Moyne and Adelphi will meet on March 31 and on April 14 in Top 10 matchups, while the Panthers will play Pace in more nationally-ranked games on March 24, April 7 and April 17.
Attendance policies will be determined by NE10 institutions, but schools will be streaming home men's lacrosse games on NE10 NOW – the digital home of the Northeast-10 Conference. Visit NE10NOW.tv for the full list of games as they become available.
The NCAA selection date for men's lacrosse is Sunday, May 9. First round games will be on May 12, the quarterfinals will be on May 16 and the semifinals on May 23 (sites to be determined). The NCAA Men's Lacrosse Final will take place on May 30 at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn.
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
