By Tom Flynn, Author and Freelance Journalist.

Check out his new book Men's Lacrosse in Maryland

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Lourdes (Ohio) is staking a firm claim as one of the NAIA’s best programs in just its third year at the varsity level. After an inaugural 2014 campaign that saw them notch an 11-3 record and advance to the CCLA postseason (a conference within the  MCLA), they dropped off to 4-7 in 2015.

This year the Gray Wolves are 9-1, with their only setback to the #1 MCLA DII team in the nation, the Dayton Flyers (8-0). They face #10 Siena Heights (Mich.) (6-3) on Friday in what will be one of the upcoming weekends best pairings. The Saints are coming into the contest off an 8-5 win over Aquinas (Mich.) on Tuesday, and are led on offense by sophomore attackman Danny Orr. 

To the east, the AAC’s St. Andrews (N.C.) is shaping up as one of the nation’s best with a 9-1 overall record. The Knights defeated Appalachian State of the MCLA on March 24 and face a quality Missouri Baptist (4-3) squad on Friday. The Spartans are not conference-aligned in men’s lacrosse. 

On the women’s side, Montreat (N.C.) scored the first victory in the program’s young history against the University of Pikeville (Ky.). The Cavaliers picked up the 9-6 road victory on Thursday at Pikeville. Freshman attackman Katie Colenda scored a hat trick for the visitors. Erin Holdsclaw made 10 stops in goal for Montreat.

Nationally, the SCAD Savannah (Ga.) Bees are the #1 National Women’s Lacrosse League (NWLL) team as of the March 28 poll. The NWLL is a 20-member “super conference” that predated NAIA Invitiational status and includes only NAIA teams. The Bees also top the NAIA overall rankings as of the March 29 poll. The Bees next travel to West Point, Georgia to face the Point University (Ga.) Skyhawks on Saturday. 

As previously announced both the men’s and women’s sides will hold their 2016 invitational tournament in Greenville, SC at Sirrine Stadium from May 4 – May 7. The venue opened in 1936 and later that year held its first college football game when host Furman defeated Davidson College. It is one of the most historic mid-sized stadiums still in active use in the Southeast.   

 Note: If you have any updates or photos from your program that you’d like to share, please send to tom.flynn51@gmail.com