Montclair State Transitions NCAA Men's, Women's Lacrosse Teams to Club Level

Montclair State University announced Friday its plan to realign its athletics and recreation program — a plan that includes moving its men’s and women’s lacrosse program down to club status in 2025.

Montclair State said in a release that its “innovative new model will increase access for students to athletics at all levels.” Despite dropping two varsity programs, Montclair State will add women’s flag football as a varsity sport for the fall 2025 semester.

“Student-athletes in all discontinued programs will have an opportunity to try out for existing NCAA teams or to participate in expanded club sports,” the release said. “The University will also review their individual situations to ensure they receive all financial aid for which they qualify.”

A Division III program, Montclair State has seen a fair amount of success in lacrosse.

Its men’s program won the Skyline Conference each year from 2009-17, going a remarkable 53-1 in conference play during that time. The program advanced to the NCAA tournament’s second round in 2016.

The women’s lacrosse team was discontinued after the 1985 season but returned after 11 years to debut again in 1997. From 2006-13, the team won the Skyline Conference in every season but 2009. It made appearances in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2012.

Montclair State is not the first competitive, small-school program to be discontinued in recent years. Cabrini, a wildly successful Division III program, closed its doors entirely in May. Lindenwood, after making the decision to move up to Division I from Division II, cut its men’s lacrosse program prior to the 2024 season.

Some of the cuts can be attributed to financial struggles in the post-pandemic college landscape. Burgeoning sports, like flag football, can also be part of the decision.