La Plume, PA – Keystone College is proud to announce the addition of men's and women's lacrosse programs for the 2014-2015 school year. The two teams will compete at the varsity level beginning in the spring of 2015 as members of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) and will play all their home contests at the brand new, $3.4 million synthetic all-weather athletic field and track complex currently under construction on campus.
"This is a very exciting next step in our evolution as a four-year college and an NCAA Division III institution," stated Dr. Bob Perkins, Vice President for Student Affairs. "The addition of men's and women's lacrosse will not only bring a new group of strong student-athletes to Keystone, but will also contribute to the growth of this exciting sport in the Colonial States Athletic Conference and Northeast Pennsylvania."
The addition of men's and women's lacrosse lifts Keystone's total varsity athletic sponsorship to 19 teams including eight for men and nine for women. The Giants will become the CSAC's eighth institution to sponsor men's lacrosse and the tenth to sponsor women's lacrosse.
"I am pleased with Keystone's announcement of the addition of both men's and women's lacrosse for the 2014-15 season" said CSAC Commissioner Jennifer Dubow. "We believe in the importance of offering a broad based athletics program and with this addition our conference continues to grow. I wish Keystone the best of luck with the start of the programs and am confident that Keystone's teams will make an already competitive conference even more competitive on both the men's and women's sides."
Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the nation and will also help the College expand its footprint further into some of the lacrosse hotbeds including up through New York to New England, across to New Jersey, and down south through Philadelphia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Additionally, the new programs at Keystone will help develop the sport locally and provide another opportunity for local players and fans of the game to follow it at the collegiate level.
"I could not be any more excited with the addition of the lacrosse here at Keystone," stated Dr. Matthew Grimaldi, Keystone College Director of Athletics. "It's the fastest growing sport in the country and, for those new to the game, it's an exciting sport to watch. Not only am I thrilled that we are offering these new opportunities to future student-athletes, but I am also excited to see the school spirit that will follow these programs."
The addition of the lacrosse programs continues Keystone's progressive growth and commitment to offering a vast array of extracurricular activities. On April 19, 2013, the College announced the installation of a $3.4 million synthetic all-weather athletic field and track which will host Keystone's men's and women's lacrosse teams. The 360' x 240' field, which is surrounded by an eight lane track, will be located above Ned Boehm Field and adjacent to Keystone's Sugar Shack. The field will be lighted, allowing for night games and practices which will provide student-athletes with more opportunities to meet both their academic and athletic commitments.