Cleveland, Ohio – December 11, 2008 -- Springfield College is ranked 19th nationally after completion of the second round of the fall Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings in Division III.The Pride has amassed 153 points, and is ranked fourth best in New England behind Williams (1st), Middlebury (6th), and Amherst (9th). Springfield is the top-rated institution in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (MIT is next at 44th).
These rankings do include women’s soccer, a sport where Springfield fared well, but which was not included in the initial fall standings.
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 14 sports -- seven women’s and seven men’s.
Six of the seven fall NCAA championships have been completed with the following institutions capturing titles: Cortland State (men’s cross country); Middlebury (Vt.) (women’s cross country); Emory (Ga.) (volleyball); Bowdoin (women’s field hockey); and Messiah doubling up by winning both men’s and women’s soccer. .
Springfield College totaled 53 points in field hockey, which made it to the Round of 16, and 50 points in women’s volleyball, which reached the Round of 32. The Pride also accumulated 50 more points in women’s soccer, where it also finished in a tie for 17th.
Williams (Mass.) is still the leader. The Ephs lead Messiah by 32 points, 326-294. Williams finished third at both the men’s and women’s cross country national meet. The Ephs also finished fifth overall in women’s volleyball.
The Red Dragons of Cortland State (N.Y.) are third in point total with 283. They have tallied three top-10 finishes, including winning the men’s cross country national title. Cortland State also finished fifth in women’s field hockey and ninth in women’s cross country.
Emory is fourth with 278 points, Calvin fifth at 265.
Rounding out the Top-10 are Middlebury (243), Ohio Northern (213), Johns Hopkins (204), Amherst (200), and Trinity (TX) (195).
The next Division III standings will be released Tuesday, December 23.
