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SOMERSET, NJ—New Jersey Institute of Technology has accepted an invitation from the Northeast Conference Council of Presidents and will join the NCAA Division I league as an associate member in the sport of men's lacrosse.

NJIT established men's lacrosse as a Division I varsity sport in 2013 and began competition during the 2014-15 academic year. The Highlanders have competed as a Division I Independent for the past four seasons and will begin Northeast Conference competition during the 2020 season. 

"We are very excited to join the Northeast Conference as an associate member in men's lacrosse. Since our program's inception, we have been searching for a competitive league within our geographic region and the NEC is a perfect fit," said Lenny Kaplan, NJIT's Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics. "This partnership is the final piece to help us grow into the competitive program that we envisioned since its launch."

"On behalf of NJIT athletics, specifically our lacrosse student-athletes and coaches, I want to thank Commissioner Morris for this exciting opportunity," Kaplan said.

By adding NJIT along with Merrimack College and Long Island University, the NEC will see its men's lacrosse membership rise to a total of 10 teams. Seven Northeast Conference core members (Bryant, LIU, Merrimack, Mount St. Mary's, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Wagner) will join three associates (NJIT, Hobart and Saint Joseph's) in playing a single round-robin regular season league schedule.

"Our program couldn't be more excited to join the NEC. There are so many great programs, coaches and players right around the corner from us," fifth-year head coach Travis Johnson said. "Our student-athletes can now compete for a conference playoff bid, a conference championship and an NCAA bid. It's what they're playing for. These are great times for our program, which is truly thankful for the dedicated efforts of Dr. Joel Bloom and Lenny Kaplan."

Having sponsored women's lacrosse since 1998, the NEC launched its men's lacrosse league during the 2010-11 academic year. Beginning with the 2013 season, the Northeast Conference champion has received automatic access to the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship.

 "We are excited to have NJIT join the growing Northeast Conference lacrosse family.  In addition to committing the resources and personnel to build a successful program, they now have a state-of-the-art facility to showcase their men's lacrosse team," said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. "With the additions of LIU, Merrimack and NJIT, NEC lacrosse will be bigger and better in 2020!"

This past season, two Northeast Conference teams – Robert Morris and Saint Joseph's – made appearances in both major Top 20 national polls (Inside Lacrosse/Maverik Division I Media Poll and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division I Coaches Poll). 

ABOUT THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
Now in its 38th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#22), Baltimore (#26), and Hartford/New Haven (#30).  Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 15 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary's, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. Merrimack will join the NEC as a full-time member in July, 2019.

For more information on the NEC, visit the league's official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, all @NECsports.