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top 10 moments add wlax

Top 10 Moments of 2020-21: Addition Of Women's Lacrosse Program Announced

8/4/2021 10:15:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications | (716) 839-8385 | mmiranto@daemen.edu
AMHERST, N.Y. - On Wednesdays and Fridays this summer, daemenwildcats.com will feature stories that look back upon the top 10 moments of the 2020-21 season. Record-setting performances, important wins and history-making achievements will be documented in the series.

THE MOMENT:
Addition Of Women's Lacrosse Program Announced
After several months of anticipation, Daemen Director of Athletics Traci Murphy stepped to the podium inside Lumsden Gymnasium at press conference in early June to announce the addition of women's lacrosse as the College's 18 varsity sport. The announcement came after an exhaustive process to determine the best path towards further growth within the Daemen Division of Athletics which had already more than doubled the amount of intercollegiate teams and student-athletes since 2010. 

"We are thrilled to continue the growth of Western New York's Premier Division II Team with the addition of a women's lacrosse program," said Murphy. "It's a shining example of how Daemen continues to operate from a position of strength despite the many challenges that institutions of higher education have faced over the past 15 months."

Daemen women's lacrosse will make its debut during the Spring 2023 semester, giving head coach Dominique Hamman an opportunity to build her roster over two recruiting cycles. Hamman's appointment as the program's first leader was also announced at the June press conference. A native of Central New York, Hamman returns to The Empire State following her own collegiate playing career at Division I Central Michigan, as well as a two-year stint on the coaching staff at Division II Grand Valley State. 

"I'm excited to lay the foundation of women's lacrosse here and see it flourish alongside all of the other established athletic programs," Hamman said. "Daemen College's strong academics and tight-knit family atmosphere will pave the way in bringing in phenomenal student-athletes who will be ready to excel both in the classroom and out on the field. I look forward to experiencing all of the firsts that come with building a program and doing it with amazing young women who will say 'yes' to the vision and see the potential of Daemen women's lacrosse."

The Daemen women's lacrosse team will compete in the East Coast Conference, a league that the College has been affiliated with dating back to 2013. Since adding women's lacrosse to the conference's sponsored sports in 2006, the ECC has produced 22 NCAA tournament teams and four national champions. 

Women's lacrosse has been one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and within the NCAA. In the last 20 years the number of teams at NCAA-affiliated institutions more than doubled. For the 2019-20 academic year, the NCAA reported women's lacrosse sponsorship at 523 institutions (representing 47% of NCAA membership) and nearly 13,000 participating student-athletes. 

The growth of the sport is even more staggering at the NCAA Division II level where sponsorship increased 137.5% since 2009. Currently, 114 NCAA Division II members sponsor women's lacrosse.

MORE COVERAGE
Women's Lacrosse/Dominique Hamman Introductory Press Conference
Women's Lacrosse/Dominique Hamman Press Release
Dominique Hamman Bio

LOOK BACK - ADDITIONAL TOP 10 MOMENTS OF 2020-21

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen College women's lacrosse program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWLAX. 



 
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