University of Detroit Mercy to Join MAAC Men's Lacrosse League
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. ? The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announces the addition of the University of Detroit Mercy to the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse league, starting competition in the 2009-2010 season.
"Detroit Mercy is a excellent addition to the MAAC as it is a school that is athletically and academically compatible to the league's mission,” MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor stated. "The MAAC seeks to provide an environment where men's lacrosse can continue to develop as a league sport, and the addition of Detroit Mercy continues that commitment."
“As the sport of lacrosse grows nationally, the MAAC is pleased to be a part of that growth as the University of Detroit Mercy becomes the 57th Division I program and another proud member of the MAAC Lacrosse League,” Bill Maher, Director of Athletics at Canisius College and Chair of the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League, said. “The University of Detroit Mercy is a tremendous fit for our league, both in the profile and mission of the institution as well as to the commitment they have made to the sport of men’s lacrosse.”
Detroit completed its first season of competition of Division I men’s lacrosse in 2009, playing 10 of its 11 games on the road. UDM featured the smallest roster size in Division I with 26 eligible players, which included 15 freshmen and five sophomores to go with just one player with Division I experience. The Titans, led by head coach Matt Holtz, will host their MAAC opponents at Titan Field.
“I am excited about the University of Detroit Mercy's men's lacrosse program becoming an affiliate member of the MAAC,” Detroit Director of Athletics Keri Gaither said. “The MAAC has a rich tradition of athletic and academic excellence by all of its member institutions and these factors were extremely important to the Detroit Titans Athletic program and we looked for a good conference fit. I am proud that our men's lacrosse will be a part of the MAAC conference tradition. Being a member of this league is also a great competitive opportunity for the Titan program and student-athletes. It will allow us to have a strong and consistent schedule as well as an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament.”
The Titans will be eligible to participate in the 2010 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, which will take place May 7-9 at Tenney Stadium on the campus of Marist College. The winner receives the league’s automatic bid to the 40th Annual NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
“This is a great opportunity for our program to compete in the MAAC,” Holtz said. “The conference will provide us with a very competitive environment where we can compete for an opportunity to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament.”
The addition of Detroit follows the imminent departure of three associate members of the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League. Providence College will begin playing men’s lacrosse in the Big East Conference in the 2009-2010 academic year. Mount St. Mary’s University and Wagner College will start playing men’s lacrosse for the Northeast Conference in the 2010-2011 season.
The MAAC is in its 28th year of competition during the 2008-2009 academic year. The league was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan College and Saint Peter’s College. In June of 1995, the MAAC continued to develop opportunities for student-athletes as the conference announced the formation of the MAAC Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Leagues. The men’s league began competition in the spring of 1996. This past season, the men’s league consisted of four MAAC schools -- Canisius, Manhattan, Marist, and Siena ? and five associate members ? Mount St. Mary’s, Providence, Saint Joseph’s, Virginia Military Institute and Wagner.
The University of Detroit (founded in 1877) and Mercy College of Detroit (founded in 1941) consolidated in 1990 to form the University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan's largest and most comprehensive Catholic university. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus and the Religious Sisters of Mercy, UDM is committed to quality education, service of faith, promotion of justice and compassionate service to persons in need, in order to establish future generations of students as leaders in the 21st century.