Lakewood, N.J.- Georgian Court University will add men's lacrosse to its current mix of athletic teams, growing the number of men's offerings to five by Fall 2015. The decision, motivated in part by the popularity of lacrosse in New Jersey and surrounding states, is expected to draw highly competitive players from across the Shore region and beyond.
 
"This is yet another step in becoming fully coed, and it also represents another investment in the future of the university," added GCU President Rosemary E. Jeffries, RSM, Ph.D. "When we announced the move to coeducation in 2012, we expected to move forward in phases that would impact academics, athletics, residence life, and student affairs. In adding men's lacrosse, we are taking yet another step to make more opportunities available to our male students."
 
"In 2013, we consciously decided to only add five men's sports—basketball, cross-country, soccer, and indoor and outdoor track & field—so that we would be in compliance with NCAA regulations and not overwhelm the university during the transitional process," added GCU Athletics Director Laura Liesman. "With the addition of men's lacrosse, we will become an attractive option for male lacrosse players who want to earn their degree at a Catholic institution."
 
The search for a men's lacrosse coach is underway and plans are in development to install an artificial turf field that will be used by lacrosse and soccer student-athletes.  Recruiting for the men's team is expected to begin immediately upon the hiring of a coach, giving the program ample time to prepare for competition in spring 2016. 
 
"We expect men's lacrosse to blend seamlessly with the academic and competitive excellence that has been established within GCU athletics and to join their fellow student-athletes in the tradition of service within the Georgian Court community, as well as beyond its gates," says Ms. Liesman.
 
To learn more about men's lacrosse and GCU's 14 other NCAA Division II men's and women's athletic offerings, please continue to visit www.gculions.com. 
 
About Georgian Court University
Founded in 1908 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Georgian Court University is a comprehensive university with a strong liberal arts core and a special concern for women. A forward-thinking university that supports diversity and academic excellence, Georgian Court serves more than 2,300 students of all faiths through its coeducational undergraduate and graduate programs. Georgian Court's main campus is located at 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, N.J., on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, now named a National Historic Landmark.
 
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