Lawrence University will add lacrosse programs starting in 2025
APPLETON − Lawrence University is adding women's and men's lacrosse to its offering of intercollegiate sports, the school announced Thursday.
The first season of competitive play is scheduled for spring 2025. A search for full-time head coaches is underway. The addition of lacrosse teams brings Lawrence's roster of teams to 24.
Lawrence joins a growing list of NCAA Division III institutions to offer lacrosse as an intercollegiate sport. More than 200 Division III schools around the nation sponsor lacrosse, including eight schools in Wisconsin.
"The ever-growing popularity of lacrosse across the nation, particularly in the Midwest, extends opportunities for student-athletes who are looking to continue their playing careers while pursuing a quality degree at a leading liberal arts university," director of athletics Jason Imperati said in a news release. "While we have tremendous work ahead, we are excited for the future of both programs and what they will mean for the Lawrence experience and our greater community."
Both programs will play on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl. Renovations to the Banta Bowl in 2015 made it possible to play lacrosse in the stadium.
Lawrence becomes the fifth school in the Midwest Conference to sponsor lacrosse, joining Beloit College, Cornell College, Lake Forest College and Monmouth College. Lawrence is searching for a conference for the lacrosse programs.
Cornell, Lake Forest and Monmouth are in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference. Beloit is a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
The most recent addition to the intercollegiate sports program at Lawrence was women's hockey, which started play in the 2020-21 academic year in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Lawrence University will add lacrosse programs starting in 2025
