NAIA lacrosse

Last updated
Map of varsity NAIA men's lacrosse teams. NAIA men's lacrosse map.png
Map of varsity NAIA men's lacrosse teams.
Men's lacrosse
First season2016 (invitational sport)
No. of teams32
Most recent
champion(s)
Keiser Seahawks (1)
Most titles Reinhardt Eagles (5)
Official website NAIA.org
Women's lacrosse
First season2016 (invitational sport), 2021 (championship sport)
No. of teams38
Most recent
champion(s)
Lawrence Tech Blue Devils (1)
Most titles Savannah College of Art and Design Bees (3 NIT)
Official website NAIA.org

There are numerous men's and women's college lacrosse teams at schools that are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which is an alternate varsity athletic organization to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Contents

The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) was the first NAIA lacrosse conference to offer a championship for both men and women. [1]

During the summer of 2015, the NAIA approved men's and women's lacrosse to move from emerging sport status to national invitational. This move allows NAIA varsity teams to compete within the NAIA rather than an outside organization. The first NAIA National Invitational Tournament (NIT) was held in May 2016 in Greenville, South Carolina. Lacrosse is required to remain an invitational sport for a minimum of two years before applying for full championship status. Women's lacrosse moved to championship status beginning in the 2020–21 season. The inaugural NAIA Women's Lacrosse Championship tournament was held in Savannah, Georgia, in May 2021. As of summer 2022 men's lacrosse remained on invitational status.

Men's programs

Appalachian Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
University of the Cumberlands Patriots Williamsburg, Kentucky 1,743
Keiser University Seahwaks West Palm Beach, Florida 19,510
Montreat College Cavaliers Montreat, North Carolina 1,145
Point University SkyHawks West Point, Georgia 1,035
Reinhardt University Eagles Waleska, Georgia 1,057
Savannah College of Art and Design Bees Savannah, Georgia 2,500+
St. Andrews University Knights Laurinburg, North Carolina 800
Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs Athens, Tennessee 1,100
Webber International University Warriors Babson Park, Florida 800

Heart of America Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Benedictine College Ravens Atchison, Kansas 2,200
Clarke University Pride Dubuque, Iowa 1,100
Missouri Valley College Vikings Marshall, Missouri 1,800
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Cougars Mount Vernon, Ohio 2,222
St. Ambrose University Bees Davenport, Iowa 3,402
William Penn University Statesmen Oskaloosa, Iowa 1,050

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Columbia CollegeCougars Columbia, Missouri 6,765
Midland University Warriors Fremont, Nebraska 1,395
Missouri Baptist University Spartans Creve Coeur, Missouri 2,800
Ottawa University Braves Ottawa, Kansas 725
University of Saint Mary Spires Leavenworth, Kansas 750

Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Aquinas College Saints Grand Rapids, Michigan 2,300
Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals Ann Arbor, Michigan 1,200
Indiana Institute of Technology Warriors Fort Wayne, Indiana 7,000
Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils Southfield, Michigan 3,000
Lourdes University Gray Wolves Sylvania, Ohio 1,546
Madonna University Crusaders Livonia, Michigan 3,139
Siena Heights University Saints Adrian, Michigan 2,307
Taylor University Trojans Upland, Indiana 1,887
University of Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines Dearborn, Michigan 9,500

Club teams

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Arizona Christian University Firestorm Glendale, Arizona 1,001
Biola University Eagles La Mirada, California 3,924
College of Idaho Coyotes Caldwell, Idaho 1,000
Multnomah University Lions Portland, Oregon 335
Sierra Nevada University Eagles Incline Village, Nevada 617
Southern Oregon University Raiders Ashland, Oregon 5,260
University of Providence Argos Great Falls, Montana 2,100
Westcliff University Warriors Irvine, California 2,779

Future Programs

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollmentYear JoiningConference
Life University Running Eagles Marietta, Georgia 7182023-2024Independent

Women's programs

Appalachian Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
University of the Cumberlands Patriots Williamsburg, Kentucky 1,743
Georgetown College Tigers Georgetown, Kentucky 1,400
Montreat College Cavaliers Montreat, North Carolina 1,145
Reinhardt University Eagles Waleska, Georgia 1,057
St. Andrews University Knights Laurinburg, North Carolina 800
Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs Athens, Tennessee 1,100
Truett McConnell University Bears Cleveland, Georgia 1,000

Cascade Collegiate Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Corban University Warriors Salem, Oregon 1,000
Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers La Grande, Oregon 3,488

Heart of America Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Benedictine College Ravens Atchison, Kansas 2,200
Clarke University Pride Dubuque, Iowa 1,100
Culver–Stockton College Wildcats Canton, Missouri 1,066
Missouri Valley College Vikings Marshall, Missouri 1,800
St. Ambrose University Fighting Bees Davenport, Iowa 3,402
William Penn University Statesmen Oskaloosa, Iowa 1,050
Mount Mercy University Mustangs Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1,280

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Midland University Warriors Fremont, Nebraska 1,395
Missouri Baptist University Spartans St. Louis, Missouri 2,800
Ottawa University Braves Ottawa, Kansas 725
UHSP Eutectics St. Louis, Missouri 698
University of Saint Mary Spires Leavenworth, Kansas 750

Sun Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Ave Maria University Gyrenes Ave Maria, Florida 1,080
Keiser University Seahawks West Palm Beach, Florida 19,510
Life University Running Eagles Marietta, Georgia 2,000
Savannah College of Art and Design Bees Savannah, Georgia 2,500+
St. Thomas University Bobcats Miami Gardens, Florida 3,650
Warner University Royals Lake Wales, Florida 1,200
Webber International University Warriors Babson Park, Florida 800

Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference

InstitutionNicknameLocationEnrollment
Aquinas College Saints Grand Rapids, Michigan 2,100
Bethel University Pilots Mishawaka, Indiana 1,964
Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals Ann Arbor, Michigan 459
Indiana Institute of Technology Warriors Fort Wayne, Indiana 3,500
Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils Southfield, Michigan 4,000
Madonna University Crusaders Livonia, Michigan 3,139
Rochester Christian University Warriors Rochester Hills, Michigan 1,153
Siena Heights University Saints Adrian, Michigan 2,307
Marian University Knights Indianapolis, Indiana 3,595
Lourdes University Gray Wolves Sylvania, Ohio 1,546


NAIA National Invitational Tournament (NIT) & National Championship Results

Men's NIT

YearChampionship TeamScoreRunner-up TeamArenaLocation
2016 Davenport 13–10 [2] Missouri Valley Sirrine Stadium Greenville, South Carolina
2017 Reinhardt 10–5 [3] Keiser
2018 Reinhardt 8–7 (OT) [4] Madonna Aquinas Athletic Field Grand Rapids, Michigan
2019 Reinhardt 11–4 [5] Aquinas (MI)
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Memorial Stadium Savannah, Georgia
2021 Reinhardt 17–8 [6] Indiana Tech
2022 Reinhardt 11-5 [7] Indiana Tech Ashton Brosnaham Stadium Pensacola, Florida
2023 Keiser 15-8 [8] Indiana Tech

List of NIT Champions

SchoolChampionshipsWinning YearsRunner-UpRunner-Up Years
Reinhardt52017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Davenport12016
Keiser1202312017
Indiana Tech32021, 2022, 2023
Missouri Valley12016
Madonna12018
Aquinas (MI)12019

Women's NIT (2016-2019) / National Championship (2020-present)

YearChampionship TeamScoreRunner-up TeamArenaLocation
2016 Davenport 13–9 [9] Georgetown (KY) Sirrine Stadium Greenville, South Carolina
2017 Savannah College of Art and Design 16–10 [10] Lawrence Tech
2018 Savannah College of Art and Design 18–11 [11] Indiana Tech Aquinas Athletic Field Grand Rapids, Michigan
2019 Savannah College of Art and Design 18–12 [12] Benedictine (KS)
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Memorial Stadium Savannah, Georgia
2021 Keiser 13–11 [13] Cumberlands (KY)
2022 Benedictine (KS) 9-8 [14] Lawrence Tech Blue Devils Stadium Southfield, Michigan
2023 Lawrence Tech 16-15 [15] Savannah College of Art and Design

List of NIT & National Champions

SchoolChampionshipsWinning YearsRunner-UpRunner-Up Years
Savannah College of Art and Design3*2017, 2018, 201912023
Davenport1*2016
Keiser1**2021
Benedictine (KS)1**202212019
Lawrence Tech1**202322017, 2022
Georgetown (KY)12016
Indiana Tech12018
Cumberlands (KY)12021

* NIT Champions / ** National Champions

See also

Related Research Articles

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The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to their student athletes. $1.3 billion in athletic scholarship financial aid is awarded to student athletes annually. For the 2023–24 season, it had 241 member institutions, of which two are in British Columbia, one in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the rest in the continental United States, with over 83,000 student-athletes participating. The NAIA, whose headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri, sponsors 28 national championships. CBS Sports Network, formerly called CSTV, serves as the national media outlet for the NAIA. In 2014, ESPNU began carrying the NAIA Football National Championship.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Women's Lacrosse League</span> American college athletic conference

The National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL) is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) women's lacrosse-only college athletic conference. The vast majority of NAIA women's lacrosse programs play at the club level as part of the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA). The NAIA does not currently organize the sport of lacrosse for its member institutions, although there is hope this may change in the near future. In the meantime, the NWLL is providing an umbrella organization for all women's varsity NAIA lacrosse teams in the USA, including a national championship tournament.

The 2011 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA tournament. The 74th annual tournament began March 15 on campus sites ended on March 31 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Wichita State defeated Alabama, 66–57, to win its first NIT title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 National Invitation Tournament</span> Annual NCAA basketball competition

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The 2015 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2015 NCAA tournament. The annual tournament is being played on campus sites for the first three rounds, with the Final Four and championship game being held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament began on Tuesday, March 17 and ended on Thursday, April 2. On February 6, the NCAA announced the 2015 NIT will use a 30-second shot clock and a 4-foot (1.2 m) restricted-area arc as experimental rules for the 2015 tournament. On March 4, the NCAA announced teams that are marked as the first four teams left out of the 2015 NCAA tournament field will be the top-seeded teams in the 2015 NIT.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savannah College of Art and Design Bees</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reinhardt Eagles</span>

The Reinhardt Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Reinhardt University, located in Waleska, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) since the 2009–10 academic year. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level from 1999–2000 to 2000–01. The Eagles previously competed in the Southern States Athletic Conference from 2000–01 to 2008–09. Prior joining the NAIA, Reinhardt was also a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and of the National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA) until after the 1998–99 school year.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NAIA Women's Bowling Championship</span> American bowling tournament

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References

  1. "WHAC Adds Two Conference Sports for 2012-13". WHAC. January 27, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  2. Staff (May 7, 2016). "Davenport Wins Inaugural Men's Lacrosse Invitational Title". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  3. Chasanoff, Tommy (May 6, 2017). "Reinhardt Wins National Invitational Title". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  4. Green, Katie (May 12, 2018). "Reinhardt (Ga.) Wins Second-Straight Lacrosse Invitational Title". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  5. Staff (May 12, 2019). "2019 Invitational Championship Game Recap". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. Staff (May 8, 2021). "Reinhardt Captures Fourth Straight NAIA Men's Lacrosse Invitational". NAIA. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  7. Staff (May 14, 2022). "Recap of the 2022 Men's Lacrosse Invitational Final". NAIA. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  8. Staff (May 13, 2023). "Recap of the 2023 NAIA Men's Lacrosse Invitational Final and All-Tournament Team". NAIA. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  9. Staff (May 7, 2016). "Davenport Wins Inaugural Women's Lacrosse Invitational Title". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  10. Chasanoff, Tommy (May 6, 2017). "SCAD Savannah Wins Invitational Title". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  11. "Lacrosse Box Score (Final) 2018 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) Women's Lacrosse Statistics Indiana Tech vs SCAD Savannah (Ga.) (May 12, 2018 at Grand Rapids, MI.)". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  12. "SCAD Savannah (Ga.) vs. Benedictine (Kan.) 5/11/2019". NAIA. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  13. "Keiser (Fla.) Captures Inaugural NAIA Women's Lacrosse Championship". NAIA. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  14. "Recap of the 2022 Women's Lacrosse Championship". NAIA. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  15. "2023 NAIA Women's Lacrosse Championship Recap & All-Tournament Team". NAIA. May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.