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March 13, 2023 - With a Nor’easter bearing down on the New England region this week, plenty of Division 3 men’s lacrosse programs will be happy they traveled to Florida for spring break this year. While Florida is home to zero NCAA Division 3 schools, 15 D3 lacrosse programs, most from the Northeast, will be boosting the local Florida economy this week as they enjoy sun and sights, and play a couple of lacrosse games as well.
Clark University was the first school to travel south, arriving last week for a Wednesday, March 8 game at Division 2 Florida Southern. It marked the only game not being played on a neutral site. On Saturday, March 11, the Cougars played Salve Regina University in Clearwater at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex. They also shared some of their experiences on Instagram.
The Northeast Regional Park in Polk County, conveniently located near Lake Buena Vista and the Disney World Resort and Theme Parks, is home to 10 schools on spring break. All except North Central College and Lake Forest College in Chicago traveled from the Northeast.
UMass-Boston is one of the schools playing near Disney. The Beacons have already begun hyping the trip, and the warmer weather, on its Instagram feed.
For Coach Jay Farrell of the North Central Cardinals, the trip has been years in the making. “The real reason we chose Florida for the first time is that we have a group of 12 seniors who have been through the ringer, and they deserve a great trip to wrap up what was an incredibly challenging collegiate career,” he said. “With their freshman season canceled and their sophomore year on campus in 2020-2021 subject to restrictions and COVID protocols, as well as snow issues during the previous two spring breaks, Florida was the answer.”
In addition to escaping the cold and rewarding seniors, Florida may be the answer to other questions as well. Neutral site games allow schools to compete against competition from other regions. North Central, an NCAA tournament team a year ago, drew Clarkson University (4-0) in its first game on Sunday, March 12, and lost 12-6. The Cardinals play Western Connecticut State University (5-0) on Wednesday, March 15.
“It was to get the opportunity to challenge ourselves among the best of the best,” Farrell said before the team left on its trip. “And we’re always grateful for the east coast teams that open their schedules to the midwest squads during our spring break trips. We will continue to seek opponents to raise our game.”
The University of Tampa is also home to a group of three schools each playing two games this week: Bowdoin College, Nazareth College, and Western New England University.
Teams from the Commonwealth Coast, CCIW, Empire 8, Little East, Liberty League, Great Northeast, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, NESCAC, and NEWMAC conferences will spend a week in the Sunshine State.
March 8
Clark University at Florida Southern (D2)
March 11
Salve Regina University v Clark University at Clearwater, FL (Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex)
Wentworth Institute of Technology v Western Connecticut State University at North Davenport, FL (Northeast Regional Park Polk County)
March 12
Lasell University v Farmingdale State College at North Davenport, FL
North Central College v Clarkson University at North Davenport, FL
March 14
Bowdoin College v Western New England University at Tampa, FL (University of Tampa)
FDU-Florham v UMass-Boston at Davenport, FL
Lasell University v Eastern Connecticut State University at Davenport, FL
March 15
Bowdoin College v Nazareth College at Tampa, FL
Clarkson University v Keene State College at Davenport, FL
North Central College v Western Connecticut State University at Davenport, FL
Salve Regina University v. Wesleyan University at Vero Beach, FL (Dick Bird South County Field)
March 16
Eastern Connecticut State University v. Farmingdale State College at Davenport, FL
UMass-Boston v Lake Forest College at Davenport, FL
March 18
Western New England v. Nazareth College at Tampa, FL
Lake Forest College v FDU-Florham at Davenport, FL
Clark University was the first school to travel south, arriving last week for a Wednesday, March 8 game at Division 2 Florida Southern. It marked the only game not being played on a neutral site. On Saturday, March 11, the Cougars played Salve Regina University in Clearwater at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex. They also shared some of their experiences on Instagram.
The Northeast Regional Park in Polk County, conveniently located near Lake Buena Vista and the Disney World Resort and Theme Parks, is home to 10 schools on spring break. All except North Central College and Lake Forest College in Chicago traveled from the Northeast.
UMass-Boston is one of the schools playing near Disney. The Beacons have already begun hyping the trip, and the warmer weather, on its Instagram feed.
For Coach Jay Farrell of the North Central Cardinals, the trip has been years in the making. “The real reason we chose Florida for the first time is that we have a group of 12 seniors who have been through the ringer, and they deserve a great trip to wrap up what was an incredibly challenging collegiate career,” he said. “With their freshman season canceled and their sophomore year on campus in 2020-2021 subject to restrictions and COVID protocols, as well as snow issues during the previous two spring breaks, Florida was the answer.”
In addition to escaping the cold and rewarding seniors, Florida may be the answer to other questions as well. Neutral site games allow schools to compete against competition from other regions. North Central, an NCAA tournament team a year ago, drew Clarkson University (4-0) in its first game on Sunday, March 12, and lost 12-6. The Cardinals play Western Connecticut State University (5-0) on Wednesday, March 15.
“It was to get the opportunity to challenge ourselves among the best of the best,” Farrell said before the team left on its trip. “And we’re always grateful for the east coast teams that open their schedules to the midwest squads during our spring break trips. We will continue to seek opponents to raise our game.”
The University of Tampa is also home to a group of three schools each playing two games this week: Bowdoin College, Nazareth College, and Western New England University.
Teams from the Commonwealth Coast, CCIW, Empire 8, Little East, Liberty League, Great Northeast, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, NESCAC, and NEWMAC conferences will spend a week in the Sunshine State.
March 8
Clark University at Florida Southern (D2)
March 11
Salve Regina University v Clark University at Clearwater, FL (Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex)
Wentworth Institute of Technology v Western Connecticut State University at North Davenport, FL (Northeast Regional Park Polk County)
March 12
Lasell University v Farmingdale State College at North Davenport, FL
North Central College v Clarkson University at North Davenport, FL
March 14
Bowdoin College v Western New England University at Tampa, FL (University of Tampa)
FDU-Florham v UMass-Boston at Davenport, FL
Lasell University v Eastern Connecticut State University at Davenport, FL
March 15
Bowdoin College v Nazareth College at Tampa, FL
Clarkson University v Keene State College at Davenport, FL
North Central College v Western Connecticut State University at Davenport, FL
Salve Regina University v. Wesleyan University at Vero Beach, FL (Dick Bird South County Field)
March 16
Eastern Connecticut State University v. Farmingdale State College at Davenport, FL
UMass-Boston v Lake Forest College at Davenport, FL
March 18
Western New England v. Nazareth College at Tampa, FL
Lake Forest College v FDU-Florham at Davenport, FL