LEC Welcomes Lasell and Worcester State as Women’s Golf Affiliate Members for 2026-27
Providence, RI- On behalf of the Little East Conference (LEC) Presidents Council, Commissioner Al Bean announced the addition of Lasell University and Worcester State University as affiliate members in women's golf for the 2026-27 academic year.
"The Little East Conference is very pleased to welcome Lasell University and Worcester State University as affiliate members in the sport of women's golf beginning this coming fall," said Bean. "With the addition of these two programs, it brings the field size to nine teams, providing a robust championship experience for all of our LEC student-athletes. We're very excited to have them with us."
Worcester State recently completed its eight varsity season as an independent program in 2025-26. Lasell announced the addition of women's golf as its 19th varsity sport offering in March 2026.
LEC women's golf launched in 2025-26 as the Conference's 24th championship offering with five primary member institutions - Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College, Rhode Island College, University of Southern Maine and Western Connecticut State University - and two affiliate members in Husson University and Westfield State University.
Keene State won the inaugural Little East Championship in October 2025 at Valley Country Club in Warwick, Rhode Island. The 2026-27 LEC champion will earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament following a NCAA-mandated waiting period.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Jamie Marcoux - Assistant Vice President for Athletics, Lasell University
"As Lasell women's golf prepares for its inaugural season, we are thrilled to join the Little East Conference as an affiliate member. This opportunity provides our student-athletes with strong regional competition and meaningful championship opportunities against outstanding programs across the conference. We are grateful for the warm welcome from the conference and its member institutions, and we look forward to building lasting relationships while competing at a high level within the Little East".
Michael Mudd - Director of Athletics, Worcester State University
"We are excited for our women's golf team to join the Little East Conference as an affiliate member. The chance to compete in a league environment will be a real benefit to our student-athletes. We appreciate the opportunity that Commissioner Al Bean and the Little East Conference has provided us."
About the Little East Conference
The Little East Conference (LEC) was formed in 1986 when six public institutions gathered to create a single sport athletic conference, and has expanded into what is now one of New England's premier NCAA Division III multi-sport athletic conferences. The LEC now features 24 championship sports, sponsoring quality competition for our student-athletes while following the Division III mission of "passion, responsibility, sportsmanship and citizenship."
The Little East's nine primary institutions – Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College (N.H.), UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, Plymouth State University (N.H.), Rhode Island College, University of Southern Maine, Vermont State University Castleton, and Western Connecticut State University - encompass all six New England states, as do its affiliate members.