La Roche will sponsor men’s lacrosse as a varsity sport beginning in the 2010-11 academic year.

It will become the 11th varsity sport at the school, which also is considering the feasibility of adding a women’s lacrosse program during the next two years.

“We’ve done some research through our office of admissions and also with a group of our sports marketing students, and we found that lacrosse is something prospective students want to play at the college level,” said Jim Tinkey, La Roche athletics director.

Tinkey said the team would compete initially as an independent. La Roche is a member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, which does not currently sponsor a men’s lacrosse championship.

“But we are confident that this is an up-and-coming sport,” he said.

One AMCC member, Medaille, currently sponsors men’s lacrosse and is an associate member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference in the sport. Another league member, Frostburg State, announced plans earlier this year to add the sport but is moving to the Capital Athletic Conference in 2010-11.

Tinley said the school is searching for a coach and will evaluate locations for playing and practice fields during the coming year.