Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association


The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association 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.
WWW mcla.us

History

The MCLA was formerly known as the US Lacrosse Men's Division of Intercollegiate Associates. 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 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. 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 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 and Grand Valley State.

MCLA Conferences

The MCLA separates teams into divisions based upon performance history, and regional conferences.

Current conferences

Defunct conferences

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

*Postseason play contained top 8 teams. Hosted as "MCLA Invitational" rather than as a national championship.
TeamChampionshipsWinning yearsRunner upRunner up Years
Colorado State61999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2012, 201332000, 2002, 2004
Brigham Young51997, 2000, 2007, 2011, 202411998
Michigan32008, 2009, 2010
UC Santa Barbara22004, 200521997, 2003
22015, 2017
South Carolina22019, 2022
California1199812019
Sonoma State1200212005
Colorado1201432006, 2013, 2015
Chapman1201642008, 2009, 2017, 2018
Michigan State12018
Concordia Irvine12023
Liberty12025
Arizona State32010, 2011, 2014
Cal Poly22012, 2016
Georgia Tech22022, 2025
Simon Fraser11999
Stanford12001
Oregon12007
Virginia Tech12023
Utah Valley12024

MCLA Division II Championship history

*Postseason play contained top 4 teams. Hosted as "Covid Cup Invitational" rather than as a national championship.
TeamChampionshipsWinning yearsRunner upRunner up Years
St. Thomas 72009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 202552011, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024
San Diego22005, 2006
Dayton22015, 202312009, 2019
Montana12007
Westminster College1200812013
Davenport12011
1201442008, 2012, 2016, 2025
Concordia Irvine1201712015
North Dakota State12018
Utah12022
Montana State12024
St. Johns 32006, 2007, 2014
Utah Valley22005, 2010
Rhode Island12022

List of MCLA Statistical Leaders

MCLA Division I All Time Career Points Leaders
RankNameTeamPointsGoalsAssists
1Keaton MohsLiberty362191171
2Bryan LarocqueDavenport34527669
3Ted FerrinBYU337202135
4Eric NelsonArizona State312184128
5Brooks BaroGeorgia Tech311195116
6Ben A TownerSimon Fraser30523570
7Ryan WestfallArizona State304164140
8Pierce QuarlesGeorgia Tech299140159
9Trevor YealyMichigan29828315
10Corey NoonanFlorida State29821484
11David DrehoffCentral Florida297190107
12Aidan SmithVirginia Tech28819098
13Tyler WestfallArizona State286158128
14Tyler KirkbySimon Fraser28219389
15Jake HalversenBYU28219092
16Garret BrennanClemson282157125
17Matthew T MalcolmTexas State27920475
18Dylan GarnerChapman277173104
19Elliot GrowBYU268122146
20Brian ConnollyGeorgia Tech267157110
21Matt HigginsPittsburgh267147120
22Greg LundeSimon Fraser255155100
23Connor MartinChapman25416886
24Amar BatraMinnesota254141113
25Sam GregoryLiberty250143107
26Mark ManningUtah & BYU24815197
27Casey MithunMinn-Duluth248121127
28AJ HeptingTexas A&M24716483
29Scott HebererCal Poly245126119
30Davis GoodmanFlorida State243139104
31Tim PetersonGeorgia Tech242115127
32Cooper KehoeColorado State24015486
33Will PatchClemson23414193
34Ryan MillerLiberty23213498
35Noah IversenMissouri231102129

MCLA Division I All Time Career Goals Leaders
RankNameTeamGoals
1Trevor YealyMichigan283
2Bryan LarocqueDavenport276
3Ben A TownerSimon Fraser235
4Corey NoonanFlorida State214
5Matthew T MalcolmTexas State204
6Ted FerrinBYU202
7Brooks BaroGeorgia Tech195
8Tyler KirkbySimon Fraser193
9Keaton MohsLiberty191
10David DrehoffCentral Florida190
11Matt GraupmannCal Poly190
12Aidan SmithVirginia Tech190
13Jake HalversenBYU190
14Eric NelsonArizona State184
15Dylan GarnerChapman173
16Connor MartinChapman168
17AJ HeptingTexas A&M164
18Ryan WestfallArizona State164
19Andrew ZemanFlorida State160
20Kevin HaydenVirginia Tech160
21Marcus WoodenChapman159
22Cam WengreniukGrand Canyon158
23Chris SeversonBYU158
24Tyler WestfallArizona State158
25Blake DayUNLV157
26Brian ConnollyGeorgia Tech157
27Garret BrennanClemson157
28Greg LundeSimon Fraser155
29Cooper KehoeColorado State154
30Jake MarthensArizona State153
31Mark ManningUtah & BYU151
32Andrew ClaytonChapman150

MCLA Division II All Time Career Points Leaders
RankNameTeamGPPointsPPGGoalsAssists
1Eric WeberHope493938.0229697
2Jack DumsaGVSU703915.59176215
3Chris ColeFullerton753674.89214153
4Cameron C HoldingGVSU523647.0026698
5Louis R RichmanMontana State563275.84154173
6Shawn BeerDavenport553115.6521695
7Mike AnselFullerton502965.9221185
8Austin JenkinCal State San Marcos612964.85177119
9Nicholas H TkachukPacific Lutheran562955.2721184
10Micah WillisFullerton542925.41152140
11Nicholas GuzzettiCollege of Idaho452836.2919786
12Joe M CostelloSt. Thomas682804.12178102
13Jordan RichtsmeierDavenport582804.83122158
14Chris PerkinsNorthern Colorado542715.02105166
15Greg SwansonPBA502665.3288178
16Ryan BrouwerNew Haven482655.52161104
17Adam ZimmermanNorthern Arizona522655.10149116
18Michael MannSam Houston State372627.08156106
19Alex KowalskiFullerton542564.7419363
20John P HealySCAD552554.6417283
21Christopher IdemaGVSU352557.2990165
22Andrew C WebbSouthwestern482495.1919554
23Josh FaganConcordia532474.6619255
24Calvin DavisWestern Oregon582454.22133112
25Dan FleisherWashU432435.65142101
26Sean MastroNorthern Arizona542434.50133110
27Allen CampbellHope452435.40121122
28Daniel HochspeierWestern Oregon672423.6192150
29Alexander BrownMontana State532414.5515190
30Kyle BoydNorthern Colorado542404.4417961
31Scott SchulzeKennesaw State522404.6214496
32Jonathan J PrichardBiola552364.2919046
33Christian A FurbayDayton602353.9216273
34Tyler MathewsKennesaw State572314.0513299
35Brian EvansNorthern Colorado552304.1814090

MCLA Division II All Time Career Goals Leaders
RankNameTeamGPGoalsGPG
1Eric WeberHope492966.04
2Cameron C HoldingGVSU522665.12
3Shawn BeerDavenport552163.93
4Chris ColeFullerton752142.85
5Mike AnselFullerton502114.22
6Nicholas H TkachukPacific Lutheran562113.77
7Nicholas GuzzettiCollege of Idaho451974.38
8Andrew C WebbSouthwestern481954.06
9Alex KowalskiFullerton541933.57
10Josh FaganConcordia531923.62
11Jonathan J PrichardBiola551903.45
12Kyle BoydNorthern Colorado541793.31
13Joe M CostelloSt. Thomas681782.62
14Austin JenkinCal State San Marcos611772.90
15Jack DumsaGVSU701762.51
17John P HealySCAD551723.13
16David JustvigMissouri Baptist561723.07
18George PertessisSan Jose State451663.69
19Christian A FurbayDayton601622.70
20Ryan BrouwerNew Haven481613.35
22Josh PuckettIndiana Tech471573.34
21Jacob BohinceWestern Oregon501573.14
23Michael MannSam Houston State371564.22
24Joshua S SmithProvidence461553.37
25Louis R RichmanMontana State561542.75
26Chad F MurphyFort Lewis441523.45
29Will W McCormickDayton461523.30
27Micah WillisFullerton541522.81
28Spenser BrockWestern Oregon571522.67
30Alexander BrownMontana State531512.85
31Josh CondasWestminster751512.01

Executive committee

  • Ken Lovic
  • Zach Bosh
  • Gary Podesta
  • Mike DeWan
  • Jason Stockton
  • Tony Scazzero
  • Mike Annala