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Austin Peay State University (D1 TN) Adds Women's Lacrosse

 CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University Athletics Department is set to add women's lacrosse – the fastest-growing sport in the National Collegiate Athletics Association – to its intercollegiate athletics programs for Spring 2026. In adding women's lacrosse, the Governors add their 17th athletic team – and 11th women's program – competing at the Division I level. 

 "As always, it is a great day to be a Gov and we are thrilled to announce the addition of a women's lacrosse program at Austin Peay," said APSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. "Lacrosse is the fastest-growing women's sport in the NCAA, and we are excited to have the first Division I women's lacrosse program at a public university in the state of Tennessee! "This is an exciting time for Austin Peay and the entire Clarksville community, and I can't wait to watch an entirely new group of Governors student-athletes fulfill the 'Total Gov Concept' while also competing for championships on the field!" Austin Peay plans to conduct a national search for its first-ever women's lacrosse head coach during the summer of 2024. After a head coach is hired, they would have the entirety of the 2024-25 athletic year to hire a staff, begin to recruit, and sign student-athletes.


 "The launch of a new Division I program in women's lacrosse is an exciting opportunity for Austin Peay State University," said APSU President Dr. Michael Licari. "Lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and with this new program, we will be the only public university in Tennessee with a Division I scholarship women's program. I am proud that, once again, Austin Peay leads the way in providing opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level while pursuing a top-notch education."

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Florida State University Adds Women's Lacrosse

 Florida State University will add women's lacrosse as a varsity scholarship program, Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford announced on ­­­Tuesday, October 3. FSU women's lacrosse is projected to begin competition in the 2025-26 academic year. 

"We are excited to add women's lacrosse as a varsity scholarship program at Florida State," said Alford. "Lacrosse is the fastest growing college sport nationally and it is evident that our culture and community will enthusiastically embrace it. Lacrosse provides another opportunity to compete at a championship level." With this decision, FSU becomes one of 118 Division 1 NCAA women's lacrosse programs spanning 16 conferences. The Seminoles also embark on competition in one of the nation's premiere women's lacrosse conferences in the ACC, which has produced 17 NCAA women's lacrosse national champions and has placed a team in the national title game in 13 of the last 14 seasons. "As a club team at FSU, women's lacrosse has a proven culture of excellence and achievement," said Alford. "In hearing from both current and former players, their passion and input throughout this process was constructive and helpful in our decision making. I am thankful for their participation in the process and looking forward to an exciting future." 

"We are thrilled that Florida State will begin sponsoring women's lacrosse and we look forward to welcoming the program in 2025-26," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "There is no shortage of ACC women's lacrosse successes, and this is another example of our league's continued commitment to maximizing the educational and athletic opportunities for our student-athletes."

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Dominican University (D2 CA) Adds Lacrosse

 SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican University of California is pleased to announce that both the men's and women's lacrosse teams have been elevated into the NCAA and will be joining the rest of its Dominican counterparts in participation at the NCAA Division II level, effective immediately. This will be the first NCAA Division II women's lacrosse program and the second NCAA Division II men's lacrosse program in California, with student-athletes joining the teams from throughout the United States.

"Both the men's and women's programs have been led by two exemplary leaders in coach [Samuel] Vogel-Seidenberg and coach [Joseph] Manna," Dominican Athletics Director Amy Henkelman said. "Coach Vogel-Seidenberg had a clear vision for the men's program and has done a great job of championing the sport and its development. I'm very excited for the future of both programs. The young men and women of both programs have done everything we asked of them and have been a great addition to the Dominican community, campus and department."

The Dominican men's lacrosse team has been participating at the club level as a member of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) conference since 2015 while the women's team spent its inaugural season in 2023 the Western Women's Lacrosse League (WWLL) conference of the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (WCLA). The two teams will play as independent programs, void of any conference. 

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Geneva College (D3 PA) Adds Women's Lacrosse

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. -- Geneva College announced today that it will launch a women's lacrosse program for the 2024-25 academic year with the spring of 2025 being the first year of competition within the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Geneva College will become the 11th member of the PAC to field a women's lacrosse program. 

"The PAC is thrilled that Geneva College has unveiled plans to add the 11th varsity women's lacrosse program to our conference," states PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko. "From a standing start less than 10 years ago, the PAC has grown and developed into now having all full conference members sponsor this growth sport at the varsity level. Under the leadership of President Calvin Troup and Athletic Director Van Zanic, I am confident the Golden Tornado women's lacrosse program will quickly become competitive and represent the school and conference extremely well, both on the field and in the classroom." 

Women's lacrosse will become the 20th varsity sport that Geneva's student-athletes can compete in. It is the seventh new varsity program for Geneva College in the last 10 years following men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's golf, men's tennis, and men's volleyball.

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Recapping 2023's Inaugural Year Programs

  

College of Saint Benedict
Division 3 (W)
Minnesota
W – 2023 Record 11-3

University of Bridgeport
Division 2 (M)
Connecticut
M – 2023 Record 1-12

St. Thomas University

NAIA (W)
Florida
W – 2023 Record 4-10

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Division 3 (W)
Wisconsin
W – 2023 Record 0-14

University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy
NAIA (W)
Missouri
W – 2023 Record 0-7

Anderson University
Division 2 (W)
South Carolina
W – 2023 Record 9-8

Clemson University
Division 1 (W)
South Carolina
W – 2023 Record 12-6

Daemen College
Division 2 (W)
New York
W – 2023 Record 7-9

Xavier University
Division 1 (W)
Ohio
W – 2023 Record 4-10

Thomas More University
NAIA (M)
Kentucky
M – 2023 Record 6-10

Malone University
Division 2 (M)
Ohio
M – 2023 Record 7-8

Fairleigh Dickinson University
Division 1 (W)
New Jersey
W – 2023 Record 9-9