By Jake Geiger, Staff Writer

Xavier Athletics announced on May 16 the addition of women’s lacrosse as the Musketeer’s 19th varsity sport. 

Xavier’s Vice President and Athletic Director Greg Christopher made the announcement, noting the program’s excitement to dive into a quickly-growing sport.

“We are excited about the addition of the nation’s fastest-growing sport, women’s lacrosse, as our 10th women’s sport at Xavier,” Christopher said. “Women’s lacrosse has exploded in popularity at the high school and collegiate level in Ohio and throughout the Midwest and East Coast footprint of the BIG EAST Conference.”

Xavier will become the seventh women’s lacrosse team in the Big East Conference, playing Georgetown, Butler, Marquette, Denver, Connecticut and Villanova. The Big East Conference will play in the national tournament beginning in the spring of 2024. 

Christopher also made it notable that adding the lacrosse team upholds the university’s commitment to the Title IX Program. 

“The long-range strategic plan for a self-sustaining program makes sense for Xavier Athletics and the university,” Christopher said. “This also deepens our relationships in key target areas for admissions.” 

The team will play their home games at Corcoran Field and will practice inside at the renovated Heidt Family Champions Center. After two years of recruiting, Xavier’s lacrosse team is slated to start in the 2022-2023 school year. The roster will begin with approximately 25 players and grow to 35 as the team progresses.