NEC Replaces Merrimack, Sacred Heart with Cleveland State, Robert Morris

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the NEC, which announced its return to men’s lacrosse on October 12 only to be met 11 days later with the news that expected members Merrimack and Sacred Heart were departing for the MAAC.

On Tuesday, the NEC announced that Cleveland State and Robert Morris would effectively fill the shoes of the departing teams in men’s lacrosse as associate members of the conference. The NEC will return in 2024-25.

“I’m delighted to extend a warm welcome to Cleveland State and reintroduce Robert Morris into our men’s lacrosse community,” NEC commissioner Noreen Morris. “Their commitment, combined with the recent additions of Detroit Mercy and VMI, represents a significant step forward in our goal to elevate the stature of NEC men’s lacrosse. We eagerly await the start of play next year, where we will see the fruits of this collective effort take shape.”

Continue on to read the full release from the NEC.

PRESS RELEASE

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — As the anticipation continues to grow for the return of men’s lacrosse next year, the Northeast Conference (NEC) is set to welcome two programs to its men’s lacrosse lineup.

Commissioner Noreen Morris announced today that Cleveland State and Robert Morris have accepted invitations from the NEC Council of Presidents to join the conference as men’s lacrosse associate members.

Just last month, Morris announced that the NEC will reinstate men’s lacrosse as the league’s 25th championship sport for the 2024-25 academic year. The NEC initially sponsored men’s lacrosse from 2011 through 2022.

Cleveland State and RMU will be immediately eligible to compete in the 2025 NEC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, providing them with the opportunity to secure the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

“I’m delighted to extend a warm welcome to Cleveland State and reintroduce Robert Morris into our men’s lacrosse community,” said Morris. “Their commitment, combined with the recent additions of Detroit Mercy and VMI, represents a significant step forward in our goal to elevate the stature of NEC men’s lacrosse. We eagerly await the start of play next year, where we will see the fruits of this collective effort take shape.”

NEC men’s lacrosse sponsorship will recommence with seven competing programs, as core members Le Moyne, LIU and Wagner will be joined by affiliates Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris and VMI.

Cleveland State launched its men’s lacrosse program in 2017, competing as an independent for its first five years before joining the ASUN as an affiliate member for the last two seasons. During their time in the ASUN, the Vikings featured the Freshman of the Year in 2022, along with the Midfielder of the Year in 2023. Cleveland State also sported two All-Conference members and had three named to the All-Freshman team.

“Thank you to Commissioner Morris and the NEC for the invitation to join as an affiliate member in men’s lacrosse,” said Cleveland State Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Garrett. ”We are excited for this next chapter of CSU lacrosse and to join our fellow Horizon League members Detroit and Robert Morris in transitioning from the ASUN, which has been a fantastic partner and supporter of our student-athletes. We look forward to providing value as an NEC member and positioning our student-athletes for success.”

Andy German will be entering his fifth season as the Cleveland State head coach and has been with the program since its inception, starting out as the assistant coach for three years. This past season, German was instrumental in the Vikings going 6-7 overall, marking the most wins in a single season under his leadership.

“It is exciting to start a new chapter for Vikings lacrosse by joining the NEC,” said German. “We were very fortunate to obtain membership into the ASUN, and that has helped propel our program forward. I would like to thank all of the ASUN members, especially former commissioner Ted Gumbart, who was instrumental in forming the current-day ASUN lacrosse conference. Joining the NEC will continue to provide us with opportunities for conference accolades and championships, along with access to the NCAA Tournament.”

Robert Morris has a rich history within the NEC, having served as one of its founding members in 1981. The Colonials remained a full-time member for nearly four decades until concluding its affiliation at the end of the 2019-20 season.

During its ten seasons as an NEC men’s lacrosse member from 2011-20, the Colonials won the regular season title in 2012 and finished in the top-three in the conference standings seven times. RMU captured back-to-back NEC Tournament crowns in 2018 and 2019, and advanced in the 2018 NCAA Tournament with a 12-6 opening round win over Canisius.

RMU, which began sponsoring men’s lacrosse in 2005, spent the last two years as an associate member in the ASUN. Under the guidance of then first-year head coach Craig McDonald, the Colonials secured the 2021 ASUN Tournament title and earned an NCAA Tournament berth in its first season as an affiliate following an 18-17 victory over Utah. Last season, RMU advanced to the ASUN semifinal round.

“We would want to thank ASUN Commissioner Jeff Bacon and former Commissioner Ted Gumbart for providing RMU men’s lacrosse an opportunity for membership and their support over the previous three years,” said RMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris King. “We are looking forward to competing for championships in the NEC and earning NCAA postseason opportunities. We are excited to renew old rivalries as well as build new ones.”

McDonald arrived in Moon Township in 2021 following assistant coaching stints at Rutgers, UMass, Siena and Union. Over his first two years, the Colonials combined to win 18 matches.

“Joining the NEC gives us many opportunities to benefit our program,” said McDonald. “We look forward to competing not only for a NEC title, but a chance to represent the NEC in the NCAA Tournament.”
 
NEC men’s lacrosse enjoyed a significant amount of national acclaim during its initial 12-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.

With the addition of Cleveland State and Robert Morris, the NEC will proudly showcase associate members across 13 sports for the 2024-25 season. These sports include baseball (Coppin State, Delaware State, UMES and Norfolk State), women’s bowling (Duquesne and Niagara), field hockey (Fairfield and Rider), football (Duquesne), men’s golf (Binghamton, Howard, UMES and North Carolina Central), women’s golf (Delaware State, Howard, UMES and North Carolina Central), men’s lacrosse (Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris and VMI), women’s lacrosse (Delaware State and Howard), men’s soccer (Howard), women’s soccer (Delaware State and Howard), men’s swimming and diving (Howard), women’s swimming and diving (Howard), men’s and women’s tennis (Binghamton) and men’s volleyball (Daemen and D’Youville).