CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State University, in conjunction with the NEC Conference, announced Tuesday that the Vikings lacrosse program has accepted an invitation to join the league as an affiliate member, starting play in 2025.
"I'm delighted to extend a warm welcome to Cleveland State and reintroduce Robert Morris into our men's lacrosse community," said Commissioner Noreen Morris. "Their commitment, combined with the recent additions of Detroit Mercy and VMI, represents a significant step forward in our goal to elevate the stature of NEC men's lacrosse. We eagerly await the start of play next year, where we will see the fruits of this collective effort take shape."
The Vikings will remain in the ASUN for this upcoming season with eligibility for the ASUN Lacrosse Championship and bid to the NCAA Championship. Cleveland State will then have immediate eligibility to compete in the 2025 NEC Men's Lacrosse Championship, with the opportunity to secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
"Thank you to Commissioner Morris and the NEC for the invitation to join as an affiliate member in men's lacrosse," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Garrett. "We are excited for this next chapter of CSU lacrosse and to join our fellow Horizon League members Detroit and Robert Morris in transitioning from the ASUN, which has been a fantastic partner and supporter of our student-athletes. We look forward to providing value as an NEC member and positioning our student-athletes for success."
Cleveland State will be one of four affiliated members of the seven-team NEC lacrosse conference, as the Green and White will be joined by fellow Horizon League members Detroit Mercy and Robert Morris. VMI is the fourth affiliated member and the other teams in the conference include core members, Le Moyne, LIU, and Wagner.
"It is exciting to start a new chapter for Vikings lacrosse by joining the NEC," said head coach Andy German. "We were very fortunate to obtain membership into the ASUN, and that has helped propel our program forward. I would like to thank all the ASUN members, especially former commissioner Ted Gumbart, who was instrumental in forming the current-day ASUN lacrosse conference. Joining the NEC will continue to provide us with opportunities for conference accolades and championships, along with access to the NCAA tournament."
Cleveland State launched its men's lacrosse program in 2017, competing as an independent for its first five years before joining the ASUN as an affiliate member for the last two seasons. During their time in the ASUN, the Vikings had the Freshman of the Year in 2022, along with the Midfielder of the Year in 2023. Cleveland State also had two All-Conference members and three on the All-Freshman team.
Coach German will be entering his fifth season as the head coach and has been with the program since its inception, starting out as the assistant coach for three years. This past season, German was instrumental in the Vikings going 6-7 overall, marking the most wins in a single season under his leadership.
Just last month, Morris announced that the NEC will reinstate men's lacrosse as the league's 25th championship sport for the 2024-25 academic year. The NEC initially sponsored men's lacrosse from 2011 through 2022.
NEC men's lacrosse enjoyed a significant amount of national acclaim during its initial 12-year run, highlighted by four NCAA Tournament wins and nine USILA All-Americans. Bryant helped put NEC men's lax on the map with a landmark win in 2014, ousting No. 2 Syracuse from the NCAA Tournament with a 10-9 victory.
Men's lacrosse has held NCAA championship sport status since 1981. Currently, there are 77 NCAA Division I institutions that sponsor the sport.
