ECAC Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced the addition of five new members to the ECAC Lacrosse League. Beginning in 2010, Fairfield University, along with current members, Loyola College and Hobart University, will be joined by the United States Air Force Academy, Bellarmine University, University of Denver, Ohio State University and Quinnipiac University to form one of the top lacrosse conferences in the nation.

“We are excited about the direction of the ECAC Lacrosse League,” said Fairfield Director of Athletics Eugene P. Doris.  “We have played some memorable games with Denver and Ohio State, both 2008 NCAA Tournament teams, as well as Air Force, in the past and look forward to renewing those rivalries, as well as establishing new ones.”

Three of the eight teams in the newly constituted league qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season: Denver, Loyola and Ohio State.  The ECAC has enjoyed 19 NCAA Tournament bids in its nine-year history, with more than two-thirds (68%) having been at-large selections.

“The lacrosse world is going through a metamorphosis and the ECAC Lacrosse League has emerged stronger than ever,” said Keeling.  “The combination of the teams from the ECAC and the Great Western Lacrosse League will make us one of the power lacrosse conferences in the country.”

The 2008 season marked the Stags third season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League.  Fairfield has made two NCAA Tournament appearances, earning an automatic bid as the champion of the GWLL in 2002 and 2005.  In each of the last two seasons the Stags have been nationally ranked at some point in the year, including a program-best ranking of 12th in the March 19, 2007 USILA national poll.