MASCAC Men’s Lacrosse to Become 20th Sponsored Sport

The MASCAC Council of Presidents and MASCAC Commissioner Angela Baumann are proud to announce the addition of men's lacrosse as the conference's 20th sponsored sport.

Beginning in the 2026-27 season, Anna Maria College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, MCLA, and Salem State University will represent the MASCAC core membership in men's lacrosse. They will be joined by affiliate members Thomas College (ME), Husson University, and Maine Maritime Academy to officially compete for a MASCAC Regular Season Championship and an end-of-season conference tournament. 

"Today is a historic day for the MASCAC as we officially welcome men's lacrosse as the 20th MASCAC Championship Sport to the conference," Commissioner Baumann said. This sport will mark the seventh championship sport added under my leadership. Lacrosse has a rich tradition in New England, and we're proud to build on that history by providing this opportunity for our student-athletes. Bringing men's lacrosse into our championship lineup strengthens our conference, elevates our profile, and creates exciting new pathways for success."

With the addition, the MASCAC joins a growing list of Division III conferences sponsoring men's lacrosse, further expanding competitive opportunities in New England and beyond.

"Adding men's lacrosse to the MASCAC strengthens the conference by enhancing the competitive environment, fostering a sense of camaraderie among its members, and contributing to the conference's established legacy," Westfield State University President and Council of Presidents Chair Dr. Linda Thompson said. "Our student-athletes embody the heart and spirit of our universities. They are consistently among our highest academic achievers and are known for their community service and charitable work. Providing our student-athletes with more opportunities not only supports their personal and intellectual development but also benefits the communities we serve."

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Anna Maria College, Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in  football. Springfield College joined as a men's golf affiliate in 2019 while Marymount University and Marywood University joined in 2024. Anna Maria and Rivier joined the conference as women's ice hockey affiliates in 2024. Dean College joined as a football affiliate in 2025.

What those around the MASCAC are saying:

From Rear Admiral Francis McDonald, Massachusetts Maritime Academy President: "We are proud to join the MASCAC in men's lacrosse. This is an exciting and meaningful step for our institution. It builds on the growth of our program and creates greater opportunities for our student-athletes while strengthening the conference as a whole. Competing against our fellow state universities and other similarly sized institutions will bring out the best in our program. We look forward to the challenge, the camaraderie, and continuing our tradition of success as we represent Mass Maritime on this new stage." 

From Salem State Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Stephen Driscoll: "Men's Lacrosse is rapidly growing across New England and with multiple core members having Men's Lacrosse teams already, we not only provide greater competitive and recruiting advantages for our schools but also reinforce the conference's commitment to supporting emerging programs and student-athlete opportunities. Establishing Men's Lacrosse within the MASCAC will help the conference strengthen our presence on the regional and national stage. At Salem State we have made it a point of pride to play against our MASCAC conference members through our non-league scheduling and are incredibly excited to build the MASCAC Men's Lacrosse conference together."

From Anna Maria Men's Lacrosse Student-Athlete Eric Farrell: "We are excited to join the MASCAC conference as it marks a new chapter of growth and competition for our program. This move gives us the opportunity to face strong regional opponents, elevate our level of play, and showcase the hard work our team puts in every day. We're ready to make our mark and contribute to the tradition and intensity that defines the MASCAC conference."

From MCLA Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Kevin Pezanowski: "I am excited about the newly announced merger of the NAC Men's Lacrosse Conference with programs in Massachusetts to form the MASCAC Men's Lacrosse. This is a historic milestone and marks the beginning of a new chapter in the proud tradition of Division III lacrosse in New England."