Princeton will not allow student-athletes who intend to withdraw from spring classes to preserve an extra year of eligibility, thus eliminating the opportunity to play in 2021, a university spokesperson confirmed to US Lacrosse Magazine.

Because graduate students cannot compete in athletics in the Ivy League — a tradition the league stood by in an announcement on April 2 — seniors who wish to continue their athletic careers will have to consider playing at other schools, though this likely comes with significant financial implications.

This chiefly impacts players like Michael Sowers, who had reportedly withdrawn from spring classes before walking that back and clarifying that he was still enrolled. Upon hearing Thursday's news, Sowers made his intentions clear. According to Ty Xanders of Inside Lacrosse, Sowers has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Here we go: Princeton's Michael Sowers had officially entered the NCAA's transfer portal as of just after 4:00 p.m. EST, according to multiple sources.

— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) April 9, 2020

Alissa Selover of The Princetonian reported that Princeton athletic director Mollie Marcoux Samaan announced news of Princeton's decision to spring athletes in an email on Thursday.

Below is an excerpt from the email.

“Due to the University’s strong belief that all students should remain in school now more than ever, Princeton has decided that it will not approve the necessary waivers for students who withdraw from the Spring ’20 semester to use their 5th year of eligibility at Princeton.”

“I know this news will be very disappointing. I am very sorry I don’t have different news to share.”

Princeton spokesperson Ben Chang confirmed the report to US Lacrosse Magazine with the following statement:

“Princeton University regards its student-athletes first and foremost as students.  This public health crisis has required us to ask all Princeton undergraduates to do an unexpected and difficult thing: to complete their semesters online, and, in the case of our seniors, to forego experiences that they had anticipated and worked hard to achieve throughout their time here.  Many members of the Class of 2020 may wish that they could have a senior spring in residence next year.  We are, however, all in this together, and we need all of our students -- laboratory scientists, performing artists, student-athletes, and others -- to persist and graduate, even in these difficult circumstances.  That is why we are fervently encouraging all of our students, athletes included, to continue on their current schedule for completion of their studies.  For these reasons, Princeton has decided that it will not allow students who withdraw this spring to have an additional year of athletic eligibility at this University.”