FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Starting next season, the Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team will compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference as announced by MAAC commissioner Richard J. Ensor on Monday. Sacred Heart will join the league as an affiliate member for the 2023 season.
 
Sacred Heart joins Canisius, Manhattan, Marist, Siena, St. Bonaventure and Quinnipiac as men's lacrosse institutions in the MAAC. With institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the MAAC is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. 
 
"The move to the MAAC gives our men's lacrosse program the best opportunity for success," Sacred Heart Director of Athletics Judy Ann Riccio said. "We are thankful to Commissioner Ensor and all the member institutions for the opportunity to join the MAAC for men's lacrosse. This decision was made with our commitment to, and prioritization of, what is best for our men's lacrosse student-athletes."
 
Started in 1998, this will be the third conference in program history. SHU started in the Colonial Athletic Association then played as an independent for the 2010 season before the NEC added men's lacrosse the following year.
 
"We are very excited about joining the MAAC," SHU head coach Jon Basti added. "This partnership represents a tremendous opportunity for our program and for Sacred Heart University. We want to thank the university and athletics administration for the support they have given to our program to make this move. We would also like the thank the MAAC for considering our program. We look forward to creating some new rivalries."
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.