GSC Adds Women's Lacrosse

8/18/2015 10:00:00 AM

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Birmingham, AL—The increasing popularity of women's lacrosse has expanded into the Gulf South Conference, as the league officially announced that it will be adding the sport to its sponsorship list for 2015-16.
            The GSC Presidents agreed to move forward with the addition of women's lacrosse at its annual business meeting this past June and the addition was made official when the University of Montevallo and Young Harris College signed on as affiliate members last week.
            “Women’s lacrosse has consistently been one of the fastest growing sports in the NCAA for a number of years and we are excited to provide championship and award opportunities for these student-athletes in the Gulf South Conference,” GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson said. “Our Board of Directors believes this is a sport that makes sense for the GSC and I anticipate seeing more regional Division II programs in the next four or five years.”
            Four teams will make up the GSC's inaugural season with full members Alabama Huntsville and Shorter joining with UM and YHC. At least six teams are needed to conduct an official GSC Championship, but the GSC will classify women's lacrosse as an "emerging sport" which allows its members to compete for an Invitational Championship until two more members are added to the mix. The addition of women's lacrosse ups the number of sponsored GSC sports to 17 following last Thursday's official announcement to add men's and women's track and field this year.
            The 2016 GSC Women's Lacrosse Invitational Championship will be held April 22, 24 on the campus of the No. 1 seeded team. Visit gscsports.org for more information on GSC Lacrosse and also join the conversation on Twitter by using #GSCWLAX.

GSC LACROSSE MEMBERS

	*Alabama Huntsville* Program's First Year: 2016 Home field: Charger Park Head Coach: Gail Wallach \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 4-4 (1 year) Wallach's thoughts: “I am so excited for the future of UAH women's lacrosse. We're grateful to the GSC for providing our program the opportunity to compete in a nationally recognized athletic conference. This will create exposure and continue the growth of NCAA women's lacrosse.”
	*Montevallo* Program's First Year: 2016 Home field: University of Montevallo Lacrosse Stadium Head Coach: Frank Rogers \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 99-22 (8 years) Rogers' thoughts: “We are very excited to be on foundation of this new Conference, the opportunity it will provide our Student Athletes is great and we look forward to the growth that we feel it will generate within the GSC and the Peach Belt. Our Student Athletes are very excited to have the opportunity to compete and play for a conference championship in our inaugural season and we look forward to growing strong rivalries with the other schools in our conference in the sport of Lacrosse.”
	*Shorter* Program's First Year: 2011 Home field: Ben Brady Field Previous Year's Record: 4-9 Head Coach: Brittni Dulaney \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 44-36 (5 years) Dulaney's thoughts: "We are very excited about women’s lacrosse being added to the Gulf South Conference, and feel this will not only aid in the growth of the sport overall, but will also aid in the growth of our program. We are excited about the opportunity and look forward to what’s ahead.”
	*Young Harris* Program's First Year: 2013 Home field: YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field Previous Year's Record: 11-5 Head Coach: Katie Ziek \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 13-37 (3 years) Assistant Coach: Rashelle McLellan Ziek's thoughts: “We are excited and grateful to be able to join the Gulf South Conference as an affiliate member. It is not only a huge step for Young Harris College, UAH, Montevallo and Shorter, but an ever bigger step in the growth of collegiate lacrosse around the country.“

#GSC#

	*Alabama Huntsville* Program's First Year: 2016 Home field: Charger Park Head Coach: Gail Wallach \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 4-4 (1 year) Wallach's thoughts: “I am so excited for the future of UAH women's lacrosse. We're grateful to the GSC for providing our program the opportunity to compete in a nationally recognized athletic conference. This will create exposure and continue the growth of NCAA women's lacrosse.”
	*Montevallo* Program's First Year: 2016 Home field: University of Montevallo Lacrosse Stadium Head Coach: Frank Rogers \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 99-22 (8 years) Rogers' thoughts: “We are very excited to be on foundation of this new Conference, the opportunity it will provide our Student Athletes is great and we look forward to the growth that we feel it will generate within the GSC and the Peach Belt. Our Student Athletes are very excited to have the opportunity to compete and play for a conference championship in our inaugural season and we look forward to growing strong rivalries with the other schools in our conference in the sport of Lacrosse.”
	*Shorter* Program's First Year: 2011 Home field: Ben Brady Field Previous Year's Record: 4-9 Head Coach: Brittni Dulaney \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 44-36 (5 years) Dulaney's thoughts: "We are very excited about women’s lacrosse being added to the Gulf South Conference, and feel this will not only aid in the growth of the sport overall, but will also aid in the growth of our program. We are excited about the opportunity and look forward to what’s ahead.”
	*Young Harris* Program's First Year: 2013 Home field: YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field Previous Year's Record: 11-5 Head Coach: Katie Ziek \| Overall Record (Yrs.): 13-37 (3 years) Assistant Coach: Rashelle McLellan Ziek's thoughts: “We are excited and grateful to be able to join the Gulf South Conference as an affiliate member. It is not only a huge step for Young Harris College, UAH, Montevallo and Shorter, but an ever bigger step in the growth of collegiate lacrosse around the country.“