Aug. 24, 2006

BALTIMORE — US Lacrosse announces the formation of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), which will oversee play and conduct national championships for 187 non-varsity college programs in nine leagues throughout the country. The MCLA is an evolution of the US Lacrosse Men’s Division Intercollegiate Associates (MDIA) Council, which was established in 1999 soon after the founding of US Lacrosse. US Lacrosse established the MDIA and its Women’s Division counterpart, the WDIA, to provide greater structure and support to non-varsity college teams.

"The formation of the MCLA is a natural progression," said US Lacrosse Executive Director Steve Stenersen. "This important constituency will continue to be well represented within our national board, division board and committee structures, and we will actively collaborate with and continue to provide support to this level of play."

"This is not a severing of ties," said John Paul, president of the US Lacrosse MDIA Council. "The MCLA will remain supportive of and engaged in US Lacrosse in whatever capacity possible. We simply feel the establishment of the MCLA provides an additional structure in which we can serve and support our growing constituency."

The structure of the US Lacrosse Women’s Division Intercollegiate Associates (WDIA) Council, a group of more than 170 schools competing in 12 regional leagues, remains unchanged. The 2007 WDIA and MCLA national championships are scheduled to be held in Dallas in May.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse. To learn more about the organization, please visit www.uslacrosse.org. For more information on the Lindenwood University men’s lacrosse program, please contact Head Coach Troy Hood at 314-276-1690 or at thood@lindenwood.edu.