BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — After a two-year hiatus, men's lacrosse will make a grand return to the Northeast Conference stage in 2025.
 
NEC commissioner Noreen Morris announced Thursday that the conference will reinstate men's lacrosse as the league's 25th championship sport next academic year.

LIU men's lacrosse will spend its second straight season as an associate member in the MAAC this spring as it eagerly awaits the return of NEC men's lacrosse.

Morris also announced that Detroit Mercy and VMI have accepted invitations from the NEC Council of Presidents to join the conference as men's lacrosse associate members.

Detroit Mercy and VMI will immediately be eligible to compete for the 2025 NEC men's lacrosse championship, with the opportunity to secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

"As we reflected on our past successes and the pivotal role men's lacrosse has played in our conference's identity, it became evident that this sport is deeply ingrained in our NEC community," Morris said. "I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Detroit Mercy and VMI. Their commitment to join us has been instrumental in our ability to resurrect NEC men's lacrosse. Together, we're paving the way for an exciting new journey, and I eagerly anticipate crowning a men's lacrosse champion in 2025."

The NEC initially sponsored men's lacrosse from 2011 through 2022.

NEC men's lacrosse sponsorship will recommence with seven competing programs, as core members Le Moyne, LIU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart and Wagner will be joined by affiliates Detroit Mercy and VMI.

Detroit Mercy launched its men's lacrosse program in 2009, initially competing in the MAAC from 2010-21 before transitioning to the ASUN for the 2022 season. The Titans claimed the MAAC title and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2013, and advanced to the MAAC championship game in 2011 and 2018.

VMI, which began sponsoring men's lacrosse in 1983, is currently an associate member in the MAAC. The Keydets competed in the MAAC from 2003 through '13, then returned for the 2023 season after spending eight seasons in the Southern Conference.

NEC men's lacrosse enjoyed a significant amount of national acclaim during its initial 11-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.

With the addition of Detroit Mercy and VMI, the NEC will proudly showcase associate members across 13 sports for the 2024-25 season. These sports include baseball (Coppin State, Delaware State, UMES and Norfolk State), women's bowling (Duquesne and Niagara), field hockey (Fairfield and Rider), football (Duquesne), men's golf (Binghamton, Howard, UMES and North Carolina Central), women's golf (Delaware State, Howard, UMES and North Carolina Central), men's lacrosse (Detroit Mercy and VMI), women's lacrosse (Delaware State and Howard), men's soccer (Howard), women's soccer (Delaware State and Howard), men's swimming and diving (Howard), women's swimming and diving (Howard), men's and women's tennis (Binghamton) and men's volleyball (Daemen and D'Youville).