SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The ASUN Conference and the Southern Conference extended their women’s lacrosse partnership through the 2021 and 2022 seasons, which will continue to strengthen both leagues and grow the sport in the Southeastern portion of the country. To ensure that both conferences have five participating members at the start of next year, Coastal Carolina University, an affiliate member within the ASUN for the past three seasons, will participate in the SoCon for the 2020-2021 and the 2021-2022 academic years.
 
The ASUN and SoCon women’s lacrosse scheduling agreement creates a balance for both leagues with these set parameters:
 
- With an overall membership of 10 members scheduled for the 2020-21 academic year, both the ASUN and the SoCon will sponsor women’s lacrosse with five members;
 
- Both the ASUN and the SoCon will remain AQ eligible despite not having six participants, as NCAA policy provides a two-year waiver for conferences falling below six participants, provided five remain;
 
- The conferences shall play a nine-game schedule for 2020-21 and 2021-22, administered by the follows:

• Schools will play nine total contests as part of the ASUN/SoCon schedule
• Schedule will feature five sets of travel pairs
• Schools will play a single-round robin conference schedule (four conference contests)
• Schools will play a five-game crossover schedule (five crossover contests)
• Crossover contests may be canceled only by mutual agreement of sport administrators (AD or SWA) from both schools which must be provided via email to both conference offices.

 
- The schedule shall be determined jointly by the ASUN Commissioner and the SoCon Commissioner. Once determined, the ASUN will compile, distribute and maintain the official schedule;
 
- The conferences shall employ one coordinator of officials for assigning women’s lacrosse officials
 
“Our continuing partnership with the SoCon ensures that we maximize competitive and postseason opportunities for all of our women’s lacrosse student-athletes,” ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart stated. “Since first sponsoring women’s lacrosse in 2013, the ASUN has been leading the growth path for the sport in the southeast and midwest. With many of our joint affiliates set to begin play in the MAC next year, this SoCon partnership ensures the continued strength and growth of women’s lacrosse over our joint footprint. We appreciate the conference teamwork.”
 
For the 2021 season, the women’s lacrosse teams competing in the ASUN consist of Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Stetson and Howard, while members of the Southern Conference will be Furman, Mercer, Wofford, Delaware State and Coastal Carolina. Under the current arrangement, all ASUN affiliate members will continue to have access to a women’s lacrosse championship, both conferences will be NCAA AQ eligible, and cross-over scheduling allows all teams to maintain a balanced home/away schedule coordinated to minimize missed class time and travel expense.
 
“We are glad to extend our partnership with the ASUN Conference in women’s lacrosse,” SoCon Commissioner Jim Schaus said. “This is an important collaboration to ensure opportunities for our schools in the future.”