RICHMOND, Va. ? Penn State and Massachusetts are joining the Colonial Athletic Association as associate members for men's lacrosse beginning in the 2010 season, conference commissioner Tom Yeager announced today.

“We are proud to welcome the University of Massachusetts and Penn State University to the CAA in men's lacrosse,” Yeager said. “Both schools have excellent programs along with outstanding coaches and players. Their addition will keep CAA men's lacrosse among the top Division I conferences in the nation.”

The Nittany Lions and Minutemen replace Villanova, Sacred Heart and Robert Morris who have announced they are returning to their own respective leagues where men's lacrosse is being formed.

Penn State and UMass join Towson, Delaware, Drexel and Hofstra. The CAA, which will continue to explore additional membership options, will retain its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova, a CAA associate member for men's lacrosse since 2002, is joining defending national champion Syracuse, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, Notre Dame and Georgetown in a newly sponsored Big East lacrosse league that is expected to begin play in 2010.

Sacred Heart, a CAA lacrosse member since 2002, and Robert Morris, a CAA associate member since 2006, are leaving for the more friendly confines of their league, the Northeast Conference. That newly formed league will not begin play until 2011. The Wildcats, Pioneers and Colonials will compete in the CAA for the 2009 season. Thereafter they'll disappear from Towson's schedule.

“I'm thrilled we're able to add Massachusetts and Penn State to the CAA league,” said Tiger head coach Tony Seaman. “It certainly boosts our RPI and makes our strength of schedule that much stronger. It establishes the CAA as one of the top three leagues in the country. The addition of these two makes it very exciting for the CAA as well as Towson for the future.” The Tigers combined record against Villanova, Sacred Heart and Robert Morris is 26-1. TowsonTowson leads the series 11-4. The two last faced each other in a 2003 NCAA Tournament first round contest won by the Tigers, 11-6. The history between the Tigers and Minutemen is brief. The two teams haven't crossed sticks in 45 years. UMass won the only game between the two, 7-3, back in 1963