Wheaton garners highest fall ranking in the NCAA Division III United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings

CLEVELAND, OH--Wheaton College has continued to improve year after year in the NCAA Division III United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings and the fall of 2003 was no different, as the Lyons have garnered their highest ranking in the eight-year history of the program. Wheaton is ranked 15th overall and fourth best in New England through the second standings of the fall competition. The program is presented by the nation's athletics directors.

Wheaton has posted an impressive 156 points and is a mere nine points short of Amherst College's 165 points. Williams College, which has won seven of the eight championships, is the current leader with 359 points, as the Ephs have scored in five of the six fall sports. The College of New Jersey is second with 281.5 points, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with 225 points, Wisconsin-La Crosse with 222 points and Wartburg College (IA) with 212 points.

The United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. NACDA administers the program and the United States Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Alabama, is in its first year sponsoring the program. These fall standings are based on the completion of men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball.

The Lyons collected points from their men's and women's soccer programs. Head coach Matt Cushing and the Wheaton men made history by becoming the school's first male sport to reach the NCAA Tournament national semifinal round game. Finishing the season with a record of 19-3-2 and a program-best 15-game unbeaten streak, the Lyons were one game away from competing for the national championship. Wheaton appeared in its fourth NCAA Tournament.

On the women's side, head coach Luis Reis and the Lyons reached their second national quarterfinal round game in as many years, as Wheaton finished the season with an overall mark of 23-2. Falling two games short of the national title game, the Lyons earned their fourth straight appearance to the NCAA Tournament. The Blue and White captured their second New England championship in the third consecutive season that Wheaton has hosted the regional tournament.

Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports nine for the men and nine for the women. Each national champion receives 100 points. Fall standings that are published mid-year are unofficial standings. Official standings will be published upon the completion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's web site at www.nacda.com.