The College of Saint Benedict is starting a varsity lacrosse program to begin play in the spring of 2023.

The Bennies will become the fourth NCAA Division III women’s varsity lacrosse program in Minnesota and brings the number of varsity sports CSB offers to 12.

CSB Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks said that the Bennies intend to apply for membership in the Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference, which includes three Minnesota schools (Northwestern University, Augsburg University and Hamline University), Cornell College and Wartburg College in Iowa and Lake Forest College and Monmouth College in Illinois.

The sport continues to grow in popularity, both within the state and nationally.

More than 3,800 high school girls participated nationally in lacrosse during the 2020-21 season, and there are currently more than 290 Division III women’s collegiate programs across the nation. There are 95 high school girls’ lacrosse teams in the state, according to the Minnesota State High School League.

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