Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association

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The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), formerly known as the US Lacrosse Men’s Division of Intercollegiate Associates (USL MDIA), is a national organization of non-varsity, college men's lacrosse programs. The MCLA was created by the MDIA Board of Directors and its creation was announced by US Lacrosse on August 24, 2006. The MCLA oversees play and conducts national championships for almost 200 non-varsity men's lacrosse programs in nine conferences throughout the country. [1]

With close to 200 teams in two divisions, the MCLA represents the fastest growing segment of college men's lacrosse. The MCLA provides a governing structure much like the NCAA, with eligibility rules, national polls, All-Americans and a national tournament to decide national champions in both the A and B Divisions. Its nine conferences are spread across the country, from coast to coast.

The MCLA exists to provide a quality college lacrosse experience where varsity lacrosse does not exist. On an individual scale, the MCLA provides rules and a structure that promotes "virtual varsity" lacrosse. 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 has grown from 70 teams to nearly 200 in 10 seasons from 1997-2006.

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.


Contents

[edit] Conversion from MDIA to MCLA

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 of 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

[edit] Media Coverage

The MCLA receives minor media coverage in both US Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse. As of January 2008, MCLA The Lax Mag, a magazine dedicated to the MCLA, began circulation as the first publication to solely cover the MCLA. The magazine is published by a private company and holds a license agreement with the MCLA[1]. The stated goal of the magazine is to give the MCLA "respect and notoriety with stories and photos from around the league".

The 2007 MCLA Division A and B Championship games from Pizza Hut Park have been released on DVD via the Official MCLA Championship website.

Additional media coverage from ESPN, LaxPower.com, and other outlets, is increasing at as the league grows.

[edit] MCLA Conferences

For a full list of teams, see List of MCLA teams.

[edit] MCLA Division I Championship History

(called Division A thru 2007)

Year Champion Score Defeated Location
1997 BYU 15-11 UCSB St. Louis, Missouri
1998 UC Berkeley 16-15 OT BYU St. Louis, Missouri
1999 Colorado State 15-11 Simon Fraser St. Louis, Missouri
2000 BYU 17-13 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri
2001 Colorado State 16-7 Stanford St. Louis, Missouri
2002 Sonoma State 13-10 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri
2003 Colorado State 6-4 UCSB St. Louis, Missouri
2004 UCSB 8-7 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri
2005 UCSB 8-7 Sonoma State Blaine, Minnesota
2006 Colorado State 8-7 Colorado Plano, Texas
2007 BYU 16-9 Oregon Frisco, Texas
2008 University of Michigan 14-11 Chapman University Irving, Texas
Team Championships Winning years
Colorado State 4 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006
BYU 3 1997, 2000, 2007
UCSB 2 2004, 2005
UC Berkeley 1 1998
Sonoma State 1 2002
University of Michigan 1 2008

[edit] MCLA Division II Championship History

(called Division B thru 2007)

Year Champion Score Defeated Location
2005 San Diego 9-6 UVSC Blaine, Minnesota
2006 San Diego 10-3 St. John's Plano, Texas
2007 Montana 15-5 St. John's Frisco, Texas
2008 Westminster College 17-10 Grand Valley State Irving, Texas
Team Championships Winning years
San Diego 2 2005, 2006
Montana 1 2007
Westminster College 1 2008

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ MCLA The Lax Mag FAQ. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.

[edit] External links


Lacrosse Leagues
National Lacrosse League | Major League Lacrosse
Canadian Box Lacrosse

Senior A: Western Lacrosse Association (BCLA) | Major Series Lacrosse (OLA)
Senior B: Can-Am Senior B | OLA Senior B | RMLL Senior B
Senior C: West Central Lacrosse League (BCLA)
Junior A: OLA Junior A | RMLL Junior A | BC Junior A
Junior B: OLA Junior B | RMLL Junior B | Prairie Gold Lacrosse League | TOJLL
Collegiate Lacrosse

NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship
ECAC Lacrosse League
Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (non-varsity men)
National College Lacrosse League (non-varsity men)
US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates (non-varsity women)
Post-Collegiate Club Lacrosse

Midwest Cities Lacrosse Conference
Other Leagues
Australian Lacrosse League
Notable Defunct Leagues

National Lacrosse League (1974-75) | American Lacrosse League
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