PAWTUCKET, R.I. – The Little East Conference (LEC) Presidents Council has announced that Massachusetts Maritime Academy has been accepted as an affiliate member in men's lacrosse, and will begin LEC play in 2020. The addition of the Buccaneers will increase the number of institutions that sponsor men's lacrosse to 10.

"On behalf of the Presidents Council of the Little East Conference, I am pleased to welcome Massachusetts Maritime Academy to our men's lacrosse membership," said Elsa Núñez, President of Eastern Connecticut State University and Chair of the LEC Presidents Council. "Massachusetts Maritime's mission aligns well with the LEC's core membership as a public, New England institution."

"We look forward to competing in men's lacrosse as a member of the Little East Conference in the spring of 2020," Massachusetts Maritime Director of Athletics Mike Kelley said. "The high quality of competition among LEC programs is well known. We feel our men's lacrosse program will be a perfect fit with their member institutions, and appreciate the opportunity to compete in one of the top Division III men's lacrosse conferences in the country."

The Buccaneers will be the 10th program to compete in the LEC in men's lacrosse, which currently consists of eight of the conference's nine member institutions - Castleton University, Eastern Connecticut, Keene State College, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, Plymouth State University, University of Southern Maine and Western Connecticut State University – and one affiliate in Salem State University.

"Massachusetts Maritime is a welcome affiliate addition the LEC," said Cora H. Brumley, Commissioner. "We look forward to providing their men's lacrosse student-athletes with high quality competition, championships and student-athlete recognition."

Mass Maritime will continue to be an affiliate member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) for the upcoming 2019 season. The Buccaneers have been an affiliate member of the NEWMAC since 2014 after it absorbed the Pilgrim Lacrosse League, of which Mass Maritime was a member dating back to 1985.

This past season, the Buccaneers went 6-8 overall, which included a 2-1 record against LEC programs. Mass Maritime defeated Salem State (8-5) and UMass Dartmouth (9-5), and fell to Plymouth State (10-9). Following the season, Nick Zaia '18 (West Newbury, Mass.) was named to the NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

ABOUT THE LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE
The Little East Conference was established on April 28, 1986 as a single sport league by six public institutions located throughout New England. The LEC member men's and women's basketball teams commenced play in 1986-87 with double round-robin regular season and six-team championship tournament. The Little East has since become a multi-sport league with nine primary members, six affiliate members, and 19 championships. The LEC has risen to become New England's premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III. Our nine colleges and universities dedicate themselves to an ongoing fulfillment of the Division III mission of passion, responsibility, sportsmanship and citizenship.

ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY
Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a fully accredited, four-year, co-educational state university offering Bachelor and Master of Science degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond.  Located on Cape Cod, at the mouth of the scenic Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is the ideal college to pursue your love for the ocean, your concern for the environment, your interest in math and science, and your thirst for adventure.