Ever since the departure of Towson, Delaware, Drexel and Hofstra following the 2001 season, America East men’s lacrosse has been fighting for respect.

After waiting for six years and adding three SUNY schools, the AE will send two teams to the 2007 NCAA tournament. The conference, a historically strong lacrosse league, hasn’t had two NCAA teams since the Seawolves, Bearcats and Great Danes replaced the Tigers, Blue Hens, Dragons and Pride in ’01.

AE champion Albany received a No. 5 seed and a first-round home game against Loyola (7-5). The surprisingly good news for the conference didn’t end there. No. 13 UMBC was given an at-large bid after a strong 15-14 showing in the AE championship game against Albany. The Retrievers face in-state rival No. 7 Maryland (10-5).

Before the America East tournament, it looked as though a first-round home game was out of reach for the Great Danes.

‘We’re fighting for home field in the NCAA tournament, so this loss will hurt us,’ Albany coach Scott Marr told Pipe Dream after his team’s loss to Binghamton in the regular season finale.

The nod by the NCAA selection committee should help the AE regain its reputation as a top lacrosse league.

Besides Albany and UMBC, Binghamton faced two other NCAA participants in No. 2 seed Virginia and No. 4 Cornell. In 2006, Binghamton faced three eventual NCAA tournament-qualifying teams.