MAAC establishes start dates for spring sports

ERICA MILLER/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER Siena's Dylan Pantalone, left, stickhandles against Detroit Mercy in a men's lacrosse game at Siena on April 20, 2019. — PHOTOGRAPHER:

ERICA MILLER/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER
Siena's Dylan Pantalone, left, stickhandles against Detroit Mercy in a men's lacrosse game at Siena on April 20, 2019.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Council of Presidents on Wednesday approved spring schedules for soccer, volleyball, water polo, baseball, softball and lacrosse.

Competition will start no sooner than March 6 for these sports. MAAC member and associate member institutions will begin posting their respective schedules over the upcoming days.

“Many different parties, including administrators, coaches, athletic training personnel, facilities staff and MAAC staff were involved in bringing these schedules to life in the challenging environment presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” MAAC commissioner Rich Ensor said. “The conference schedules and championship formats incorporate reductions made necessary by the pandemic, but the MAAC membership is excited to move forward with this opportunity for all of our student-athletes and hope to have a great spring season of competition.”

In addition, the MAAC will hold the 2020-21 Cross Country Championships on March 5 at the Seaview Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey. Cross country competition is allowed to commence before the March 6 start date set by the MAAC Council of Presidents due to the NCAA Championship deadline for the sport being on March 5.

The 11 MAAC schools competing in spring sports include Siena, Canisius, Fairfield , Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Monmouth, Niagara, Quinnipiac, Rider and Saint Peter’s.

Following are the first permissable date of competition and championship dates for the spring sports:

Baseball (March 20, May 27-30); Cross country (Feb. 1, March 5); men’s and women’s golf (March 6, April 22-25); men’s and women’s lacrosse (March 6, May 6-9); men’s soccer (March 11, April 11, 14, 17); women’s soccer (March 9, April 9, 12, 16); outdoor track and field (Championship May 8-9, at Rider); men’s and women’s tennis (March 6, April 24-25 at West Windsor, New Jersey); rowing (March 6, May 16 at Pennsauken, New Jersey); softball (March 20, May 14-16); swimming and diving (March 6, April 7-10 at Buffalo); volleyball (March 7, April 1-3 at Albany Capital Center); water polo (March 6, May 1-2 at Marist).