MANASSAS, VA. - Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) plans to add a men's lacrosse program during the 2009-2010 academic year. For its inaugural season, the team will compete in the Capitol division of the National College Lacrosse League.

The NCLL is an organization of college club lacrosse teams playing predominantly in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions. The league is made up of over 100 teams. There are two divisions, and a national championship tournament is held at the end of each season. The NOVA program will be based out of the Manassas campus, but participation is open to students enrolled at any of the six campuses.

Coach Matt Blamey will be handed the reigns to guide the program during its inaugural season. Blamey comes to NOVA by way of South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia, where he has been the head men's lacrosse coach for the last six years.

"Having coached many student-athletes who have chosen to attend NOVA, there is a strong desire by most to continue playing lacrosse at the collegiate level," explained Blamey. "Until now, these young men have been forced to cut their playing careers short due to the lack of an opportunity. I am very passionate aboutproviding an opportunity to further student athletic participation through a lacrosse program at Northern Virginia Community College. I am confident that we will provide a model program in which these student-athletes will thrive."

2009-09-12