NCAA independent schools (lacrosse)

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NCAA independent lacrosse schools are four-year institutions in the United States that do not belong to a lacrosse-only conference or a primary all-sports conference that sponsors lacrosse. As of the 2016–17 academic year there are 22 men's and 9 women's lacrosse programs in Division I, Division II, and Division III that compete as independents.[1][2]

Division I[]

Men's[]

No teams are playing as independents in the upcoming 2022 season, Four schools had planned to play the 2021 season as such, and three did so despite COVID-19 issues. Hampton chose not to play due to pandemic concerns.[3]

All four schools joined lacrosse conferences for the 2022 season and beyond. Cleveland State, Robert Morris, and Utah joined the new men's lacrosse league of the ASUN Conference,[4] and Hampton joined Southern Conference men's lacrosse.[5]

Women's[]

There have been no independent teams in Division I women's lacrosse since the 2018 season. The only independent team in that season was East Carolina, which played its first season of varsity lacrosse as such before its all-sports league, the American Athletic Conference, launched a women's lacrosse league for 2019.

The next two schools to add women's lacrosse have confirmed conference homes for that sport. Eastern Michigan and Pittsburgh will add the sport in the 2022 season, with both to play in their full-time conference homes, respectively the Mid-American Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference.

The following year will see Xavier add the sport; it will play its inaugural season of 2023 as an independent before beginning play in its full-time home of the Big East Conference in 2024.[6] The other schools adding women's lacrosse in 2023, Clemson and Fairleigh Dickinson, will respectively play in their full-time homes of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Northeast Conference.


Division II[]

Women's[]

Institution Location Nickname Affiliation Enrollment
Concordia University (St. Paul) Saint Paul, Minnesota Golden Bears Lutheran (LCMS) 2,800
Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, Florida Panthers Private 6,631

Division III[]

Men's[]

Institution Location Nickname Affiliation Enrollment
Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin LumberJacks United Church of Christ 600
Whittier College Whittier, California Poets Private 2,259

Women's[]

Institution Location Nickname Affiliation Enrollment
Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado Tigers Private 2,011
University of Dallas Irving, Texas Crusaders Catholic (Diocesan) 2,576
Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin LumberJills United Church of Christ 600
University of Northwestern – St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Eagles Nondenominational Christian 2,005
SUNY Canton* Canton, New York Roos Public 3,700

* Transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division III.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Men's College Lacrosse 2016". LaxPower. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  2. ^ "Women's College Lacrosse 2016". LaxPower. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "Hampton Suspends 2021 Spring Seasons" (Press release). Hampton Pirates. October 30, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "ASUN Conference Announces Formation of Men's Lacrosse League" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "Hampton joining SoCon as associate member for men's lacrosse" (Press release). Southern Conference. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Xavier Athletics Announces the Addition of Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). Xavier Musketeers. May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.

External links[]

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