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Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association

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Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
SportField lacrosse
Founded2006
PresidentKen Lovic (2013–present)
No. of teams200+
CountryUnited States, Canada
Most recent
champion(s)
Division I: Brigham Young (5th title)
Division II: Montana State (1st title)
Official websitehttp://mcla.us

The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) is a national organization of non-NCAA men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada. The MCLA provides a governing structure much like the NCAA, with eligibility rules, All-Americans and a national tournament to decide national champions in both Divisions I and II.

The MCLA exists to provide a quality college lacrosse experience where varsity NCAA lacrosse does not exist. On an individual scale, the MCLA provides rules and a structure that promotes "virtual varsity" lacrosse, or an experience paralleling that of NCAA programs. While the MCLA provides a high level of athletic competition, it is one of the few governing bodies that does not have a national GPA requirement for its athletes. On a national scale, the MCLA provides the infrastructure to support a level playing field through eligibility rules and enforcement and the use of NCAA rules of play. The MCLA, an organization governing a mere 70 teams in 1997, has seen a rapid growth in affiliation as national interest in the sport of lacrosse continues to increase. As of the 2014 season, participation has increased to 210 teams.

History

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The MCLA was formerly known as the US Lacrosse Men’s Division of Intercollegiate Associates (USL MDIA). The MCLA was created by the MDIA Board of Directors and its creation was announced by US Lacrosse on August 24, 2006.

MCLA President John Paul was interviewed in a podcast on August 31, 2006. Information obtained from this interview includes:

  • MDIA council will cease to exist
  • MCLA will run its own national tournament and control its own budget
  • MCLA membership will still sit on US Lacrosse boards and committees
  • Team dues will be doubled from $500 to $1,000, the only significant impact to teams
  • By-Laws are being rewritten to be ratified in January 2007
  • Two new Vice President positions have been formed in the MCLA Executive Board and some paid positions will be created
  • Long-term goals include a full-time paid League Executive Director who will answer to the Executive Board
  • Executive Boards of MCLA and conferences will be insured, as will the national tournament, however, players and teams are responsible for their own individual insurance

Media coverage

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The MCLA receives significant print coverage from US Lacrosse's Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Inside Lacrosse acquired the license agreement from The Lax Mag in 2012 and devoted further coverage with weekly web editorial and podcasts. In efforts to promote the sport, the MCLA has also made strides to make lacrosse games available to a larger audience. In partnership with The Lacrosse Network (TLN) select games are available to viewers with streaming live feed. In the 2012 National Championship, 26 games from the tournament were broadcast live, exclusively on the MCLA tournament website while the Division II Finals, Division I Semifinals and Division I Championship were televised nationally on Fox College Sports. Additional coverage is occasionally featured on ESPN, LaxPower.com, various blogs and other news websites.

Milestones

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Colorado State University holds the record for most MCLA championships won with six (1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2012 and 2013). The Rams also hold the distinction of sending the first MCLA player into Major League Lacrosse when goaltender Alex Smith made the roster of Denver Outlaws from 2006-2010. Brigham Young (1997, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2021) is second in MCLA history with five national titles.

The University of Michigan Varsity Club Lacrosse Team became the first team in MCLA history to complete a perfect season by defeating Chapman University in the national championship game on May 17, 2008. The Wolverines were able to repeat their success the following season by once again going undefeated and beating Chapman University in the national championship game on May 16, 2009.

In 2008, Brekan Kohlitz of the University of Michigan became the first MCLA player drafted to the MLL by the Washington Bayhawks.[1]

In 2010, Connor Martin of Chapman University, a two-time All American and Offensive Player of the Year, was drafted by the Denver Outlaws.[2] In his debut for the Outlaws, he scored a hat-trick and recorded an assist, earning him MLL Rookie of the Week.[3] In 2014 Cam Holding became the second player ever to play in the MCLA to get drafted into the MLL by the Chesapeake Bayhawks. He currently plays for the Denver Outlaws and recently won a Gold medal in the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championship with team Canada.

The 2009-2011 MCLA Championships were held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.[4]

In 2011, with the conclusion of the agreement between the MCLA and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the MCLA selected a new home for the National Championships. The 2012, 2013 MCLA Championships were relocated to a new venue; Sirrine Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina.[5]

The 2014, MCLA National Championships were held in Southern California. The opening two rounds were played at UC Irvine in Orange County and the semifinals and finals at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Two first-time champions were crowned, Colorado (DI) and Grand Valley State (DII).

MCLA Conferences

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The MCLA separates teams into divisions (I or II) based upon performance history, and regional conferences.

Current conferences

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Defunct conferences

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National Championship

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The National Championships are held in May, featuring 16 qualifying teams from each division in a single-elimination contest to decide the National Champions. Each of the nine conference champions of the regular season receives an automatic bid to the National Tournament. The remaining seven teams to qualify for the tournament are selected by an at large process by the MCLA tournament committee.[6]

MCLA Division I Championship history[7]

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(called Division A through 2007)

Year Champion Score Defeated Location
1997 #4 Brigham Young 15-13 #3 UC Santa Barbara St. Louis, Missouri
1998 #2 California 16-15OT #1 Brigham Young St. Louis, Missouri
1999 #3 Colorado State 15-11 #5 Simon Fraser St. Louis, Missouri
2000 #6 Brigham Young 17-13 #4 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri
2001 #3 Colorado State 16-7 #12 Stanford St. Louis, Missouri
2002 #1 Sonoma State 13-10 #3 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri
2003 #2 Colorado State 6-4 #1 UC Santa Barbara St. Louis, Missouri
2004 #1 UC Santa Barbara 8-7 #2 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri
2005 #2 UC Santa Barbara 8-7 #4 Sonoma State Blaine, Minnesota
2006 #1 Colorado State 8-7 #3 Colorado Plano, Texas
2007 #1 Brigham Young 16-9 #3 Oregon Frisco, Texas
2008 #1 Michigan 14-11 #2 Chapman Irving, Texas
2009 #1 Michigan 12-11 #3 Chapman Denver, Colorado
2010 #1 Michigan 12-11 #3 Arizona State Denver, Colorado
2011 #3 Brigham Young 10-8 #5 Arizona State Denver, Colorado
2012 #2 Colorado State 7-5 #1 Cal Poly Greenville, South Carolina
2013 #1 Colorado State 7-2 #2 Colorado Greenville, South Carolina
2014 #2 Colorado 13-12 #1 Arizona State Irvine & Orange, California
2015 #1 Grand Canyon 9-8 #3 Colorado Irvine & Orange, California
2016 #1 Chapman 9-5 #2 Cal Poly Irvine & Orange, California
2017 #2 Grand Canyon 12-8 #9 Chapman Irvine & Orange, California
2018 #3 Michigan State 10-8 #1 Chapman Salt Lake City, Utah
2019 #3 South Carolina 13-8 #1 California Salt Lake City, Utah
2020 No Championship Series due to Covid-19 Pandemic[8]
2021 #2W Brigham Young* 16-9 #1W Chapman Round Rock, Texas
2022 #3 South Carolina 11-9 #8 Georgia Tech Round Rock, Texas
2023 #7 Concordia Irvine 17-10 #1 Virginia Tech Round Rock, Texas
2024 #1 Brigham Young 13-5 #14 Utah Valley Round Rock, Texas

*Postseason play contained top 8 teams. Hosted as "MCLA Invitational" rather than as a national championship.[9][10][11]

Team Championships Winning Years Runner Up Runner Up Years
Colorado State 6 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013 3 2000, 2002, 2004
Brigham Young 5 1997, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2024 1 1998
Michigan 3 2008, 2009, 2010
UC Santa Barbara 2 2004, 2005 2 1997, 2003
Grand Canyon 2 2015, 2017
South Carolina 2 2019, 2022
California 1 1998 1 2019
Sonoma State 1 2002 1 2005
Colorado 1 2014 3 2006, 2013, 2015
Chapman 1 2016 4 2008, 2009, 2017, 2018
Michigan State 1 2018
Concordia Irvine 1 2023
Arizona State 3 2010, 2011, 2014
Cal Poly 2 2012, 2016
Simon Fraser 1 1999
Stanford 1 2001
Oregon 1 2007
Georgia Tech 1 2022
Virginia Tech 1 2023
Utah Valley 1 2024

MCLA Division II Championship history[12]

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(called Division B thru 2007)

Year Champion Score Defeated Location
2005 #1 San Diego 9-6 #2 Utah Valley Blaine, Minnesota
2006 #1 San Diego 10-3 #6 St. John's (MN) Plano, Texas
2007 #3 Montana 15-5 #1 St. John's (MN) Frisco, Texas
2008 #1 Westminster College 17-10 #2 Grand Valley State Irving, Texas
2009 #2 St. Thomas (MN) 16-11 #1 Dayton Denver, Colorado
2010 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 12-9 #3 Utah Valley Denver, Colorado
2011 #5 Davenport (MI) 14-9 #1 St. Thomas (MN) Denver, Colorado
2012 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 9-8 #2 Grand Valley State Greenville, South Carolina
2013 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 9-7 #2 Westminster College Greenville, South Carolina
2014 #1 Grand Valley State 12-11 #2 St. John's (MN) Irvine, California
2015 #6 Dayton 12-11 #1 Concordia Irvine Irvine, California
2016 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 10-7 #6 Grand Valley State Irvine, California
2017 #2 Concordia Irvine 13-10 #1 St. Thomas (MN) Irvine, California
2018 #2 North Dakota State 8-72OT #1 St. Thomas (MN) Salt Lake City, Utah
2019 #2 St. Thomas (MN) 9-7 #4 Dayton Salt Lake City, Utah
2020 No Championship Series due to Covid-19 Pandemic[8]
2021 St. Thomas (MN)* 9-6 North Dakota State Saint Paul, Minnesota
2022 #5 Utah 13-7 #7 Rhode Island Round Rock, Texas
2023 #9 Dayton 6-5OT #3 St. Thomas (MN) Round Rock, Texas
2024 #4 Montana State 12-7 #2 St. Thomas (MN) Round Rock, Texas

*Postseason play contained top 4 teams. Hosted as "Covid Cup Invitational" rather than as a national championship.[13][14]

Team Championships Winning years Runner Up Runner Up Years
St. Thomas (MN) 6 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019 5 2011, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024
San Diego 2 2005, 2006
Dayton 2 2015, 2023 1 2009, 2019
Montana 1 2007
Westminster College 1 2008 1 2013
Davenport 1 2011
Grand Valley State 1 2014 3 2008, 2012, 2016
Concordia Irvine 1 2017 1 2015
North Dakota State 1 2018
Utah 1 2022
Montana State 1 2024
St. Johns (MN) 3 2006, 2007, 2014
Utah Valley 2 2005, 2010
Rhode Island 1 2022

List of MCLA Statistical Leaders

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MCLA Division I All Time Career Points Leaders (230 Minimum)

Rank Name Team Points Goals Assists
1 Bryan Larocque Davenport 345 276 69
2 Ted Ferrin BYU 337 202 135
3 Eric Nelson Arizona State 312 184 128
4 Ben A Towner Simon Fraser 305 235 70
5 Ryan Westfall Arizona State 304 164 140
6 Trevor Yealy Michigan 298 283 15
7 Corey Noonan Florida State 298 214 84
8 David Drehoff Central Florida 297 190 107
9 Aidan Smith Virginia Tech 288 190 98
10 Tyler Westfall Arizona State 286 158 128
12 Tyler Kirkby Simon Fraser 282 193 89
12 Jake Halversen BYU 282 190 92
12 Garret Brennan Clemson 282 157 125
13 Matthew T Malcolm Texas State 279 204 75
14 Dylan Garner Chapman 277 173 104
15 Elliot Grow BYU 268 122 146
16 Brian Connolly Georgia Tech 267 157 110
17 Matt Higgins Pittsburgh 267 147 120
18 Greg Lunde Simon Fraser 255 155 100
19 Connor Martin Chapman 254 168 86
20 Amar Batra Minnesota 254 141 113
21 Sam Gregory Liberty 250 143 107
22 Mark Manning Utah & BYU 248 151 97
23 Casey Mithun Minn-Duluth 248 121 127
24 AJ Hepting Texas A&M 247 164 83
25 Scott Heberer Cal Poly 245 126 119
26 Davis Goodman Florida State 243 139 104
27 Tim Peterson Georgia Tech 242 115 127
28 Cooper Kehoe Colorado State 240 154 86
29 Will Patch Clemson 234 141 93
30 Ryan Miller Liberty 232 134 98
31 Noah Iversen Missouri 231 102 129

MCLA Division I All Time Career Goals Leaders (150 Minimum)

Rank Name Team Goals
1 Trevor Yealy Michigan 283
2 Bryan Larocque Davenport 276
3 Ben A Towner Simon Fraser 235
4 Corey Noonan Florida State 214
5 Matthew T Malcolm Texas State 204
6 Ted Ferrin BYU 202
7 Tyler Kirkby Simon Fraser 193
8 David Drehoff Central Florida 190
8 Matt Graupmann Cal Poly 190
8 Aidan Smith Virginia Tech 190
8 Jake Halversen BYU 190
11 Eric Nelson Arizona State 184
12 Dylan Garner Chapman 173
13 Connor Martin Chapman 168
14 AJ Hepting Texas A&M 164
15 Ryan Westfall Arizona State 164
16 Kevin Hayden Virginia Tech 160
17 Marcus Wooden Chapman 159
18 Cam Wengreniuk Grand Canyon 158
19 Chris Severson BYU 158
20 Tyler Westfall Arizona State 158
21 Blake Day UNLV 157
22 Brian Connolly Georgia Tech 157
23 Garret Brennan Clemson 157
24 Greg Lunde Simon Fraser 155
25 Cooper Kehoe Colorado State 154
26 Jake Marthens Arizona State 153
27 Mark Manning Utah & BYU 151
28 Andrew Clayton Chapman 150

MCLA Division II All Time Career Points Leaders (230 Minimum)

Rank Name Team GP Points PPG Goals Assists
1 Eric Weber Hope 49 393 8.02 296 97
2 Jack Dumsa GVSU 70 391 5.59 176 215
3 Chris Cole Fullerton 75 367 4.89 214 153
4 Cameron C Holding GVSU 52 364 7.00 266 98
5 Louis R Richman Montana State 56 327 5.84 154 173
6 Shawn Beer Davenport 55 311 5.65 216 95
7 Mike Ansel Fullerton 50 296 5.92 211 85
8 Austin Jenkin Cal State San Marcos 61 296 4.85 177 119
9 Nicholas H Tkachuk Pacific Lutheran 56 295 5.27 211 84
10 Micah Willis Fullerton 54 292 5.41 152 140
11 Nicholas Guzzetti College of Idaho 45 283 6.29 197 86
12 Joe M Costello St. Thomas 68 280 4.12 178 102
13 Jordan Richtsmeier Davenport 58 280 4.83 122 158
14 Chris Perkins Northern Colorado 54 271 5.02 105 166
15 Greg Swanson PBA 50 266 5.32 88 178
16 Ryan Brouwer New Haven 48 265 5.52 161 104
17 Adam Zimmerman Northern Arizona 52 265 5.10 149 116
18 Michael Mann Sam Houston State 37 262 7.08 156 106
19 Alex Kowalski Fullerton 54 256 4.74 193 63
20 John P Healy SCAD 55 255 4.64 172 83
21 Christopher Idema GVSU 35 255 7.29 90 165
22 Andrew C Webb Southwestern 48 249 5.19 195 54
23 Josh Fagan Concordia 53 247 4.66 192 55
24 Calvin Davis Western Oregon 58 245 4.22 133 112
25 Dan Fleisher WashU 43 243 5.65 142 101
26 Sean Mastro Northern Arizona 54 243 4.50 133 110
27 Allen Campbell Hope 45 243 5.40 121 122
28 Daniel Hochspeier Western Oregon 67 242 3.61 92 150
29 Alexander Brown Montana State 53 241 4.55 151 90
30 Kyle Boyd Northern Colorado 54 240 4.44 179 61
31 Scott Schulze Kennesaw State 52 240 4.62 144 96
32 Jonathan J Prichard Biola 55 236 4.29 190 46
33 Christian A Furbay Dayton 60 235 3.92 162 73
34 Tyler Mathews Kennesaw State 57 231 4.05 132 99
35 Brian Evans Northern Colorado 55 230 4.18 140 90

MCLA Division II All Time Career Goals Leaders (150 Minimum)

Rank Name Team GP Goals GPG
1 Eric Weber Hope 49 296 6.04
2 Cameron C Holding GVSU 52 266 5.12
3 Shawn Beer Davenport 55 216 3.93
4 Chris Cole Fullerton 75 214 2.85
5 Mike Ansel Fullerton 50 211 4.22
6 Nicholas H Tkachuk Pacific Lutheran 56 211 3.77
7 Nicholas Guzzetti College of Idaho 45 197 4.38
8 Andrew C Webb Southwestern 48 195 4.06
9 Alex Kowalski Fullerton 54 193 3.57
10 Josh Fagan Concordia 53 192 3.62
11 Jonathan J Prichard Biola 55 190 3.45
12 Kyle Boyd Northern Colorado 54 179 3.31
13 Joe M Costello St. Thomas 68 178 2.62
14 Austin Jenkin Cal State San Marcos 61 177 2.90
15 Jack Dumsa GVSU 70 176 2.51
17 John P Healy SCAD 55 172 3.13
16 David Justvig Missouri Baptist 56 172 3.07
18 George Pertessis San Jose State 45 166 3.69
19 Christian A Furbay Dayton 60 162 2.70
20 Ryan Brouwer New Haven 48 161 3.35
22 Josh Puckett Indiana Tech 47 157 3.34
21 Jacob Bohince Western Oregon 50 157 3.14
23 Michael Mann Sam Houston State 37 156 4.22
24 Joshua S Smith Providence 46 155 3.37
25 Louis R Richman Montana State 56 154 2.75
26 Chad F Murphy Fort Lewis 44 152 3.45
29 Will W McCormick Dayton 46 152 3.30
27 Micah Willis Fullerton 54 152 2.81
28 Spenser Brock Western Oregon 57 152 2.67
30 Alexander Brown Montana State 53 151 2.85
31 Josh Condas Westminster 75 151 2.01

Executive committee

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  • Ken Lovic (President)
  • Zach Bosh
  • Gary Podesta
  • Mike DeWan
  • Jason Stockton
  • Tony Scazzero
  • Mike Annala[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Brekan Kohlitz". Archived from the original on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  2. ^ "#88 Connor Martin | Denver Outlaws Lacrosse". denveroutlaws.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. ^ "December Issue: Connor Martin Photo Shoot". Inside Lacrosse. 2012-07-23. Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  4. ^ "News » MCLA National Tournament Moving to New Home » MCLA.us". Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  5. ^ "MCLA Latest News". Mcla.us. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  6. ^ "2012 Division I National Tournament at Sirrine Stadium in Greenville, SC - MCLA.us". Archived from the original on 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  7. ^ "National Championships - MCLA". mcla.us. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  8. ^ a b "MCLA Suspends Season". Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  9. ^ "Information for 2021 MCLA Invitational". Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  10. ^ "MCLA Invitational: East-West Showdown". Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  11. ^ "MCLA - Tournament - 2021 2021 MCLA Invitational". mcla.us. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  12. ^ "D-II Championship Records - MCLA". mcla.us. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  13. ^ "D-II Invitational Field Set". Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  14. ^ "MCLA - Tournament - 2021 D-II Invitational". mcla.us. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  15. ^ "MCLA Staff - MCLA". MCLA. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
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