BOSTON — The America East Conference announced today the addition of Merrimack College as an associate member in men’s lacrosse. The agreement is for the 2023 and 2024 playing seasons.

“America East is excited to welcome Merrimack as an associate member in the sport of men’s lacrosse,” America East Commissioner Brad Walker said. “Merrimack has built a competitive men’s lacrosse program within our region and will be a great fit for our conference.”

Merrimack will become the eighth men’s lacrosse sponsoring program in America East joining UAlbany, Binghamton, Bryant, UMBC, UMass Lowell, NJIT and Vermont. The Warriors just completed their third season as a Division I program and have one year left of their NCAA mandated four-year reclassification period. Merrimack will be ineligible for the 2023 America East Championship but will be eligible in 2024.

“Merrimack has built a great tradition in the sport of men’s lacrosse and we are grateful to the members of the America East conference in providing this opportunity for our team and student athletes,” said Merrimack Director of Athletics, Jeremy Gibson. “I would specifically like to thank Commissioner Walker for his tremendous support through this process.

America East has enjoyed great success in men’s lacrosse historically with 15 wins all-time in NCAA tournament play, including nine in the last 13 years and four different programs having won games in that span. Three teams have reached the quarterfinals and a pair have made it to Championship Weekend, including UAlbany in 2018 and Towson in 2001. Additionally, America East boasts four Tewaaraton Award winners all-time, tied for second-most ever behind only the ACC.