Merrimack College Men's Lacrosse Joining America East Conference

NORTH ANDOVER, MA —The Merrimack College men's lacrosse program has announced it is joining the America East Conference as an associate member for the next two seasons. The team played the last three seasons in the Northeast Conference.

Merrimack, which just completed its third season in Division I, will become the eighth men's lacrosse team in the America East, joining UAlbany, Binghamton, Bryant, UMBC, UMass Lowell, NJIT and Vermont.

The Warriors, a former Division II powerhouse, still have one year left on their NCAA-mandated four-year reclassification period, and Merrimack will be ineligible for the 2023 America East championship as a result. The Warriors will be eligible for the conference title in 2024.

"We are excited at the opportunity to play in a great conference like the America East," Merrimack head coach Mike Morgan said. "We look forward to competing against programs with rich history and tradition in lacrosse."

The Warriors finished 6-6 this past season and have won a total of 12 games since moving up to Division I. Merrimack's first Division I victory was a 14-12 triumph over the University of Michigan in 2020, before the season was cut short by the pandemic.

Merrimack won back-to-back Division II national championships in 2018 and 2019.

America East has enjoyed success over the years in men's lacrosse, with conference teams having won 15 games in the NCAA Tournament. Two conference teams have reached the NCAA Tournament's Championship Weekend: UAlbany in 2018 and Towson in 2001.

America East also boasts four Tewaaraton Award winners, tied for the second-most of any conference. The award is presented annually to college lacrosse's most outstanding player.

"America East is excited to welcome Merrimack as an associate member in the sport of men's lacrosse," America East Commissioner Brad Walker said. "Merrimack has built a competitive men's lacrosse program within our region and will be a great fit for our conference."