Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern To Bring Back Women's Lacrosse
8/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 2, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - President Henry Bienen announced today that Northwestern University will bring back women's lacrosse to its varsity sports program. The sport will have an "elevated" club status in the spring of 2001 and begin official varsity competition in the spring of 2002.
"The addition of women's lacrosse as our 19th varsity sport is part of our continuing commitment to providing athletic opportunities for Northwestern women student-athletes," said Bienen. "Lacrosse is a perfect fit for us and we already have a terrific state-of-the-art facility at Lakeside Field."
In the last eight years, Northwestern has added four women's programs: golf (1992), soccer (1994), cross country (1998) and lacrosse. Of the 19 varsity programs sponsored at NU, 11 are women's sports. After phasing in athletically related financial aid, Northwestern will have the full allotment of scholarships allowed by the NCAA for all of its women's sports. With the addition of lacrosse, NU will have approximately 230 female student-athletes competing at the varsity level.
Northwestern had previously sponsored women's lacrosse as a varsity sport from 1983 to 1991. In those nine years, the Wildcats played in the NCAA Tournament on five occasions and compiled an overall mark of 77-50.
Women's lacrosse (a spring sport) will call Lakeside Field home and share with field hockey (a fall sport) the complex, which was built in 1997 at the cost of $3.5 million. Lakeside Field includes an artificial turf playing field, permanent seating for 300 spectators, a permanent scoreboard and lighting.
A search for a new head coach will commence in the near future.
