The college lacrosse world has expected upheaval in its landscape for a while.

The first bit of it has officially arrived.

The Northeast Conference will begin play in lacrosse in 2011, siphoning two teams from the Colonial (Robert Morris and Sacred Heart), two teams from the Metro Atlantic (Mount St. Mary's and Wagner), a team from the Great Western Lacrosse League (Quinnipiac) and current Division II member Bryant.

All five of the current Division I members are already members of the NEC in other sports; Bryant is joining the league as it moves up to Division I. With six teams, the league will receive an automatic NCAA tournament berth --- a boon for a collection of teams that has a combined one Division I tournament appearance (2003 Mount St. Mary's).

On paper, that drops the Colonial and the GWLL both to five teams, below the number needed for an NCAA tournament berth.

But with the rumblings of a Big East lacrosse league still around, this is far from the final maneuver to be made in sport even in the short-term.

--- Patrick Stevens