MAAC cancels fall sports

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference decided to cancel fall athletics on Monday following the Council of President’s meeting. The conference will determine at a later date if playing fall sports in the spring is feasible. 

The MAAC joins the Ivy League and the Patriot League with the decision to cancel fall sports for 2020. 

Niagara, Monmouth, Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Quinnipiac, Ride, Saint Peter’s, and Siena make up the MAAC. 

“The decision to cancel fall sports was made with student-athletes being top of mind,” MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor said in a statement. “It is difficult to put into words how I feel for all of the student athletes, coaches, and administrators who put in so much work on a daily basis.”

“I am deeply disappointed that the decision to cancel fall sports competition had to be made. I understand the substantial impact this will have not only on our student-athletes in fall sports, but the entire student-athlete body here at Marist and across the country,” Tim Murray, the Marist Director of Athletics, said in a statement. “However, our student-athletes' health and safety was the catalyst in this decision, and will continue to be at the forefront of our operations moving forward. As is always the case, Marist Athletics will support our student-athletes through this challenging time in their athletic and academic pursuits.”

Marist said in a release it will honor all athletic and academic scholarships for fall student-athletes. “The MAAC Council of Presidents has pledged full advocacy on behalf of our student-athletes to work with the NCAA in the pursuit of any waivers that preserve lost opportunities because of these COVID-19 disruptions.”

For an update on all the conferences, check out the TopDrawerSoccer tracker.