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(Lock
Haven, Pa.) -
Lock
Haven
University
of Pennsylvania Director of Athletics Sharon E. Taylor has announced that the
Lady Eagle field hockey team will reclassify to NCAA Division I status
beginning in the 2004 season.
The
decision to transition from Division II to Division I is a result of the
University’s continuous commitment to gender equity. Lock Haven’s men’s
wrestling team has competed in Division I since the 1940’s. The
Lady Eagle field hockey program does have a brief history of Division I
experience, spending five seasons in the division from 1984 through 1988 while
compiling an overall 56-35-6 win-loss record.
“Over
time, field hockey has been our most successful women’s program and it has
competed in Division I before,” said
Taylor
. “We made a decision to move a
women’s program to Division I and field hockey was the most logical.”
“[Head
Coach] Pat Rudy’s fundraising efforts -- camps, clinics, tournaments -- have
enabled her to have scholarship amounts that allow her entry into Division
I,” continued
Taylor
. “Now, we want to try to enhance that so the team can be certain to have
success there.”
While
official reclassification will come in the Fall of 2006, Lock Haven has already
taken steps to field the full Division I schedule with 20 games on tap for
2004. Lady Eagle athletes are currently meeting Division I eligibility
standards, and the institution has made a commitment to a full time assistant
coach for the program along with a graduate assistant coach.
The
move to Division I will require a two-year compliance period. During that span,
the Lady Eagles will not be eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament.
Lock Haven will also no longer compete for the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) field hockey championship.
In its place, the Lady Eagles have gained acceptance as an associate
member in the Northeast Conference
(NEC). The addition of Lock Haven brings the NEC field hockey lineup to nine
teams including Fairfield University, Monmouth University, Quinnipiac
University, Rider University, Robert Morris College, Sacred Heart University,
Siena University and St. Francis (
Pa.
) University.
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Director of Athletics
Sharon Taylor announced
University plans to move
the field hockey program
to Division I
2004
Lady Eagle Schedule
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