Three NESCAC Teams in Top Ten of Fall Directors' Cup Standings

Courtesy NACDA

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Middlebury is in second place with 359 points in the final set of fall standings of the 2011-12 Division III Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. The Panthers placed second in both women's cross country and field hockey, ninth in women's soccer and volleyball and 13th in men's cross country.

Middlebury trails Washington (Mo.) by 13 points in the final set of fall standings.

In third place with 264 points is Amherst. The Lord Jeffs finished in fifth place in field hockey and women's soccer, ninth in men's soccer and 11th in women's cross country.

The NESCAC leads the way with three institutions in the top 10. Following Middlebury and Amherst is Williams in sixth with 230 points. The Ephs have won the last 13 Learfield Sports Directors' Cups.

Other NESCAC institutions that appear in the fall standings include Bowdoin in 14th place (178), Tufts in 24th (147), Bates in 73rd (69), and Trinity and Wesleyan which are both tied for 94th place (50).

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 18 sports -- nine women's and nine men's. The first Division III winter standings will be released March 15, 2012.