Dec. 9, 2003
2003-04 Presidents' Cup Fall Standings
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American University won four team championships and finished second once during the fall season to gain the early lead in the 2003-04 chase for the Patriot League Presidents' Cup. It's the second-straight year AU scored 40 points during the seven-sport fall season.
The Eagles captured top honors in men's and women's cross country, field hockey and volleyball on the way to compiling 40.25 points in the standings, gaining a slim lead over Bucknell after seven of 22 sports. AU's women's soccer team also tied for first in the regular-season, but fell to regular-season co-champ Navy in the Championship match.
Although Bucknell didn't win any championships, Bison teams finished among the top four in six out of seven fall sports to compile 37.75 points. Bucknell's best fall performances were in men's soccer and volleyball. The BU men's soccer team won the regular-season title but lost in the first round of the PL Tournament while the volleyball squad finished second in the regular-season and lost to American in the PL Tournament title match.
Lehigh leads a tight race for third place that has four teams within six points. The Mountain Hawks compiled 30.75 points in the seven fall sports, followed by Navy (28.25), Colgate (27.75) and Army (24.75). LU finished second in football and men's soccer to edge Navy for third place.
The Mids, who are competing in 17 PL sports this year compared to 11 in previous seasons, scored well with a women's soccer championship and a second-place finish in men's cross country. It's Navy's highest score during the fall season since the Midshipmen joined the League as a full member for the 1991-92 season.
Colgate's PL championship in football anchored its fall-season success. Army, traditionally a stronger member during the spring season, registered a second-place finish in women's cross country.
Rounding out the overall standings are Lafayette (22.00) and Holy Cross (19.00). Lafayette won the men's soccer playoff crown after finishing second during the regular season. The Holy Cross field hockey team posted a second-place finish during the regular- and post-seasons.
Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular-season and post-season. In cross country, football, golf, swimming & diving and track & field, the points are awarded on the final team standings. In team sports with post-season tournaments, such as basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball, points are awarded based on a combination of the League championship tournament and regular-season standings.
The Patriot League, an NCAA Division I athletics conference founded on the principle of admitting athletes who are academically representative of their class, is in its second decade of academic and athletic excellence. Participation in intercollegiate athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of the undergraduate experience. A successful Division I-AA football conference since 1986 and an all-sport conference since 1990, membership includes American, Army, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy, while six additional institutions hold associate membership. Patriot League member institutions are among the oldest and most prestigious in the nation, graduating alumni who are well prepared for life with the ability to make meaningful contributions to their community and society in general. In the most recent NCAA Graduation Rate Report of student-athletes, the Patriot League ranked FIRST among NCAA Division I conferences.
More information may be obtained by contacting Tom Byrnes (tbyrnes@patriotleague.com) at the Patriot League Office at (610) 289-1957 or the League website at www.patriotleague.com.
2003-04 Presidents' Cup Standings
(Through 7 Fall Sports)
OVERALL STANDINGS
Institution Points
1. American (6) 40.25
2. Bucknell (7) 37.75
3. Lehigh (7) 30.75
4. Navy (5) 28.25
5. Colgate (7) 27.75
6. Army (5) 24.75
7. Lafayette (7) 22.00
8. Holy Cross (7) 19.00
MEN'S STANDINGS
1. Bucknell (3) 17.25
(tie) Lehigh (3) 17.25
3. Colgate (3) 14.00
4. Lafayette (3) 11.50
5. Navy (2) 11.00
6. American (2) 10.00
7. Holy Cross (3) 9.00
8. Army (2) 7.00
WOMEN'S STANDINGS
1. American (4) 30.25
2. Bucknell (4) 20.50
3. Army (3) 17.75
4. Navy (4) 17.25
5. Colgate (4) 13.75
6. Lehigh (4) 13.50
7. Lafayette (4) 10.50
8. Holy Cross (4) 10.00
(#)-number of Patriot League sports
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