Jan. 29, 2007
Statement from the American Lacrosse Conference on the Announcement by Ohio University Bobcats to drop sponsorship of women’s lacrosse at the varsity level following 2007 season:
On Thursday, Jan. 25, The Ohio Department of Athletics has announced that men’s indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s swimming & diving, and women’s lacrosse will no longer be offered as varsity sport programs, effective at the conclusion of their respective 2007 seasons. The Ohio University’s women’s lacrosse team is a charter member of the American Lacrosse Conference, a lacrosse-only conference that consists of the University of Florida, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, Ohio University, The Ohio State University, Penn State University, and Vanderbilt University. These schools’ respective conferences do not sponsor lacrosse and in 2001 coaches from these institutions met to form a lacrosse-only conference.
“While we understand that this is a difficult decision for the university administration, we are disappointed for the student-athletes and coaches affected by such,” said ALC Commissioner Peggy Pruitt. “Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation at both the high school and collegiate levels, and we are proud to offer an opportunity, through the conference, for lacrosse student-athletes, coaches, and other enthusiasts. We as a conference are committed to enhancing a quality experience for the student-athletes on the lacrosse teams of our member institutions.”
The ALC is one of the top conferences in the nation, according to the RPI published by the NCAA following the 2006 season.
ALC member Northwestern has captured the last two NCAA Division I titles, and conference institutions appear regularly in national polls. Student-athletes from ALC member institutions are prominent members of both USA National Teams and have also earned significant national recognition, including NU’s Kristen Kjellman, the recipient of the Honda Award for women’s lacrosse in each of the last two years. In June of 2006 the University of Florida announced it was adding women’s lacrosse as a varsity sport and in October was accepted into the American Lacrosse Conference, a testament to the strength and development of the conference.
