BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Patriot League has announced a plan for league schedules for baseball, field hockey, football, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball and volleyball during the 2021 spring semester. League play will be contingent on the league and its member institutions being able to conduct competitions in ways that protect the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, staff members and their communities.
In addition to the nine sport spring schedules, the league has plans to host championships for men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's rowing, men's and women's swimming and diving and men's and women's tennis. Competitive opportunities will also be available for men's and women's indoor track and field.
Scheduling for field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer and volleyball will be limited to league-only contests. Non-league scheduling for baseball, men's and women's lacrosse and softball can proceed per institutional discretion. League institutions are responsible for setting regular-season schedules for cross country, golf, rowing, swimming and diving and indoor and outdoor track and field. Opponents must follow comparable health and safety protocols.
Consistent with the prioritization of health and safety, the 2020-21 schedule format features a significant reduction in travel and overnight stays. No teams will be permitted to fly to games. Instead of the league's traditional formats, teams will play an increased number of games against league opponents in closer geographic proximity.
The Patriot League office will announce detailed League schedules at a later date.
MEN'S LACROSSE
The Patriot League's nine men's lacrosse programs will be split into two divisions for the 2021 season. Army, Boston University, Colgate and Holy Cross will play in the North Division, and Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola and Navy will play in the South Division. Teams will play each divisional opponent at least once with limited games against non-divisional opponents. A minimum of seven league games will be played by each team.
The league schedule is set to begin on Saturday, March 6, concluding on Saturday, April 24, with a built-in makeup date planned for Saturday, May 1. The 2021 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Championship is scheduled to begin with the semifinal round on Friday, May 7, followed by the championship game on Sunday, May 9.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
The Patriot League's 10 women's lacrosse programs will be split into two five-team divisions for the 2021 season. Army, Boston University, Colgate, Holy Cross and Lafayette will play in the North Division. American, Bucknell, Lehigh, Loyola and Navy will play in the South Division. Teams will play each divisional opponent at least once with limited games against non-divisional opponents. A minimum of seven league games will be played by each team.
The League schedule is set to begin on Saturday, March 6, and conclude on Saturday, April 24, with a built-in make-up date planned for Saturday, May 1. The 2021 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Championship is scheduled to begin with the semifinal round on Thursday, May 6, with the championship game on Saturday, May 8.