Eagles to Begin Competition in Men's Lacrosse and Women's Golf in 2012-13
BRIDGEWATER, Va. --- Following the approval of
the Board of Trustees on Friday, Bridgewater College will add
women’s golf and men’s lacrosse to its roster of NCAA
Division III sports teams. Both teams will begin competition
in the 2012-2013 academic year. With the addition of these teams,
Bridgewater will offer the most conference-sponsored sports in the
Old Dominion Athletic Conference, increasing its league
representation from 21 to 22 disciplines (the ODAC does not sponsor
women's golf).
“We observed interest and ability in women’s golf and
men’s lacrosse among students currently on campus and moved
to expand our offerings to give students even greater opportunity
to reap the benefits of team sports, competition and general
fitness,” said Bridgewater College President George
Cornelius. “We are committed to ensuring all of our students
have the opportunity to participate in competitive sports when the
student interest exists.”
Through a national search, the college plans to hire head coaches
for the programs in the next six months. These coaches will recruit
players to compete along with eligible students already on campus
starting with the spring 2013 season.
“The addition of women’s golf and men’s lacrosse
will provide Bridgewater College with a greater recruiting presence
in the Mid-Atlantic area, which, geographically, is very important
to the department and the college as a whole,” said Curt
Kendall, director of athletics for Bridgewater College. “A
men’s lacrosse club has existed on campus for some
time. An increasing number of conference schools plan to
sponsor women’s golf, and it is a sport that we can support
and at which we can quickly become very competitive in the
conference.”
The women’s golf team will practice at area golf courses and
travel to competitions throughout the eastern United States. The
men’s lacrosse team will compete in a full complement of
games in the ODAC and throughout the region.
In addition to an intercollegiate Equestrian program, Bridgewater
College offers the following NCAA Division III sports:
women’s and men’s basketball, cross country, soccer,
tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field; women’s field
hockey, lacrosse, softball, swimming and volleyball; and
men’s baseball, football and golf.
Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college
located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in
1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational
college. Today, Bridgewater College (www.bridgewater.edu) is home to
nearly 1,700 undergraduate students. The college boasts a
successful intercollegiate sports program that sponsors 20 NCAA
Division III sports and a competitive, intercollegiate
Equestrian program (www.bridgewatereagles.com).
This release is courtesy of the Bridgewater College
sports information department.