Conferences: Belmont Abbey College has been accepted as the 10th member of the Deep South Conference beginning with the 2005-06 school year. The Deep South is a league of institutions that compete in men's lacrosse. "Lacrosse is a fast-paced and exciting sport and is growing in popularity," said Commissioner Doug Echols. "The addition of Belmont Abbey will add to the already great competition in the Deep South Conference." Belmont Abbey will be the third team in the past three years to join the Deep South. Presbyterian College was admitted for membership starting next season while Queen's University of Charlotte recently completed its second season.

Miscellaneous: After a year-long process that involved the entire institutional family, Stonehill College announced May 4 that the nickname for each of its 20 varsity athletics programs will be Skyhawks, beginning July 1. The previous Chieftains nickname was retired by the Stonehill Board of Trustees earlier this year. Skyhawks was one of seven possible names submitted for consideration during an identity search that began in 2004. The name refers to an airfield built on an estate that eventually became the Stonehill campus. The remnants of the airfield are located near Stonehill's current athletics fields. "Skyhawks truly represents a link to Stonehill's past and embodies a true athletic spirit which we seek to instill in all of our student-athletes," said the Rev. Mark T. Cregan, Stonehill president. Stonehill will unveil its new logo and mascots at events later this summer to coincide with the start of the new academic year.

-- Compiled by David Pickle