The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) is a national organization of non-NCAA men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada. The MCLA provides a governing structure much like the NCAA, with eligibility rules, All-Americans and a national tournament to decide national champions in both Divisions I and II.
The MCLA exists to provide a quality college lacrosse experience where varsity NCAA lacrosse does not exist. On an individual scale, the MCLA provides rules and a structure that promotes "virtual varsity" lacrosse, or an experience paralleling that of NCAA programs. While the MCLA provides a high level of athletic competition, it is one of the few governing bodies that does not have a national GPA requirement for its athletes. 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, an organization governing a mere 70 teams in 1997, has seen a rapid growth in affiliation as national interest in the sport of lacrosse continues to increase. As of the 2014 season, participation has increased to 210 teams.
History The MCLA was formerly known as the US Lacrosse Men's Division of Intercollegiate Associates (USL MDIA). The MCLA was created by the MDIA Board of Directors and its creation was announced by US Lacrosse on August 24, 2006.
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 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
Media coverage The MCLA receives significant print coverage from US Lacrosse's Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Inside Lacrosse acquired the license agreement from The Lax Mag in 2012 and devoted further coverage with weekly web editorial and podcasts. In efforts to promote the sport, the MCLA has also made strides to make lacrosse games available to a larger audience. In partnership with The Lacrosse Network (TLN) select games are available to viewers with streaming live feed. In the 2012 National Championship, 26 games from the tournament were broadcast live, exclusively on the MCLA tournament website while the Division II Finals, Division I Semifinals and Division I Championship were televised nationally on Fox College Sports. Additional coverage is occasionally featured on ESPN, LaxPower.com, various blogs and other news websites.
Milestones Colorado State University holds the record for most MCLA championships won with six (1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2012 and 2013). The Rams also hold the distinction of sending the first MCLA player into Major League Lacrosse when goaltender Alex Smith made the roster of Denver Outlaws from 2006 to 2010. Brigham Young (1997, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2021) is second in MCLA history with five national titles.
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. The Wolverines were able to repeat their success the following season by once again going undefeated and beating Chapman University in the national championship game on May 16, 2009.
In 2008, Brekan Kohlitz of the University of Michigan became the first MCLA player drafted to the MLL by the Washington Bayhawks.
In 2010, Connor Martin of Chapman University, a two-time All American and Offensive Player of the Year, was drafted by the Denver Outlaws. In his debut for the Outlaws, he scored a hat-trick and recorded an assist, earning him MLL Rookie of the Week. In 2014 Cam Holding became the second player ever to play in the MCLA to get drafted into the MLL by the Chesapeake Bayhawks. He currently plays for the Denver Outlaws and recently won a gold medal in the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championship with team Canada.
The 2009-2011 MCLA Championships were held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
In 2011, with the conclusion of the agreement between the MCLA and Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the MCLA selected a new home for the National Championships. The 2012, 2013 MCLA Championships were relocated to a new venue; Sirrine Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina.
The 2014, MCLA National Championships were held in Southern California. The opening two rounds were played at UC Irvine in Orange County and the semifinals and finals at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Two first-time champions were crowned, Colorado (DI) and Grand Valley State (DII).
MCLA Conferences The MCLA separates teams into divisions (I or II) based upon performance history, and regional conferences.
Current conferences Atlantic Lacrosse Conference (2021–present) Continental Lacrosse Conference (2019–present) Lone Star Alliance (1976–present) Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (1997–present) Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (1976–present) SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (1988–present) Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (2008–present) Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (1992–present) Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (1980–present)
Defunct conferences
Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (1972–2018) Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (2002–2017) Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League (1986–2018)
National Championship The National Championships are held in May, featuring 16 qualifying teams from each division in a single-elimination contest to decide the National Champions. Each of the nine conference champions of the regular season receives an automatic bid to the National Tournament. The remaining seven teams to qualify for the tournament are selected by an at large process by the MCLA tournament committee.
MCLA Division I Championship history
(called Division A through 2007) YearChampionScoreDefeatedLocation1997#4 Brigham Young15-13#3 UC Santa BarbaraSt. Louis, Missouri1998#2 California16-15OT #1 Brigham YoungSt. Louis, Missouri1999#3 Colorado State 15-11 #5 Simon Fraser St. Louis, Missouri2000#6 Brigham Young17-13 #4 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri2001#3 Colorado State 16-7#12 Stanford St. Louis, Missouri2002 #1 Sonoma State 13-10 #3 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri2003#2 Colorado State6-4 #1 UC Santa Barbara St. Louis, Missouri2004#1 UC Santa Barbara8-7 #2 Colorado State St. Louis, Missouri2005#2 UC Santa Barbara8-7#4 Sonoma State Blaine, Minnesota2006#1 Colorado State8-7 #3 Colorado Plano, Texas2007#1 Brigham Young16-9#3 Oregon Frisco, Texas2008#1 Michigan 14-11#2 Chapman Irving, Texas2009#1 Michigan 12-11#3 Chapman Denver, Colorado2010#1 Michigan 12-11#3 Arizona State Denver, Colorado2011#3 Brigham Young10-8#5 Arizona State Denver, Colorado2012#2 Colorado State7-5#1 Cal Poly Greenville, South Carolina2013#1 Colorado State7-2#2 Colorado Greenville, South Carolina2014#2 Colorado 13-12#1 Arizona State Irvine & Orange, California2015#1 Grand Canyon 9-8#3 Colorado Irvine & Orange, California2016#1 Chapman 9-5#2 Cal Poly Irvine & Orange, California2017#2 Grand Canyon12-8#9 ChapmanIrvine & Orange, California2018#3 Michigan State10-8#1 Chapman Salt Lake City, Utah2019#3 South Carolina13-8#1 CaliforniaSalt Lake City, Utah2020No Championship Series due to COVID-19 pandemic2021#2W Brigham Young*16-9#1W Chapman Round Rock, Texas2022#3 South Carolina11-9#8 Georgia TechRound Rock, Texas2023#7 Concordia Irvine17-10#1 Virginia TechRound Rock, Texas2024#1 Brigham Young13-5#14 Utah ValleyRound Rock, Texas2025#1 Liberty17-11#3 Georgia TechRound Rock, Texas2026#1 Brigham Young16-13#3 Virginia TechMidlothian, Virginia *Postseason play contained top 8 teams. Hosted as "MCLA Invitational" rather than as a national championship. Team Championships Winning yearsRunner upRunner up Years Colorado State 6 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2012, 201332000, 2002, 2004Brigham Young 6 1997, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2024, 202611998Michigan 3 2008, 2009, 2010UC Santa Barbara 2 2004, 200521997, 2003 2 2015, 2017South Carolina22019, 2022California 1 199812019Sonoma State1200212005Colorado 1 201432006, 2013, 2015Chapman 1 201642008, 2009, 2017, 2018Michigan State12018Concordia Irvine12023Liberty12025Arizona State32010, 2011, 2014Cal Poly22012, 2016Georgia Tech22022, 2025Virginia Tech22023, 2026Simon Fraser11999Stanford12001Oregon12007Utah Valley12024
MCLA Division II Championship history
(called Division B thru 2007) YearChampionScoreDefeatedLocation2005 #1 San Diego 9-6 #2 Utah Valley Blaine, Minnesota 2006 #1 San Diego 10-3 #6 St. John's (MN) Plano, Texas2007 #3 Montana 15-5 #1 St. John's (MN) Frisco, Texas2008 #1 Westminster College 17-10 #2 Grand Valley State Irving, Texas2009 #2 St. Thomas (MN) 16-11 #1 Dayton Denver, Colorado2010 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 12-9 #3 Utah Valley Denver, Colorado2011#5 Davenport (MI) 14-9 #1 St. Thomas (MN) Denver, Colorado2012 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 9-8 #2 Grand Valley State Greenville, South Carolina2013 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 9-7 #2 Westminster College Greenville, South Carolina2014 #1 Grand Valley State 12-11 #2 St. John's (MN) Irvine, California2015 #6 Dayton 12-11 #1 Concordia Irvine Irvine, California2016 #1 St. Thomas (MN) 10-7 #6 Grand Valley State Irvine, California2017 #2 Concordia Irvine 13-10 #1 St. Thomas (MN) Irvine, California2018#2 North Dakota State8-72OT#1 St. Thomas (MN)Salt Lake City, Utah2019#2 St. Thomas (MN)9-7#4 DaytonSalt Lake City, Utah2020No Championship Series due to COVID-19 pandemic2021St. Thomas (MN)*9-6North Dakota StateSaint Paul, Minnesota2022#5 Utah13-7#7 Rhode IslandRound Rock, Texas2023#9 Dayton6-5OT#3 St. Thomas (MN)Round Rock, Texas2024#4 Montana State 12–7#2 St. Thomas (MN)Round Rock, Texas2025#4 St. Thomas (MN) 10–6#2 Grand Valley StateRound Rock, Texas2026#3 Grand Valley State11–10#1 St. Thomas (MN)Midlothian, Virginia *Postseason play contained top 4 teams. Hosted as "Covid Cup Invitational" rather than as a national championship. Team Championships Winning yearsRunner upRunner up YearsSt. Thomas (MN) 7 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 202562011, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2026San Diego 2 2005, 2006Dayton 2 2015, 202312009, 2019 2 2014, 202642008, 2012, 2016, 2025Montana 1 2007Westminster College 1 200812013Davenport 1 2011Concordia Irvine 1 201712015North Dakota State12018Utah12022Montana State12024St. Johns (MN)32006, 2007, 2014Utah Valley22005, 2010Rhode Island12022
List of MCLA Statistical Leaders MCLA Division I All Time Career Points Leaders (230 Minimum)