Wheaton Finishes Fall Season Ranked 17th in the NCAA Division III United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup Standings

CLEVELAND, OH - Wheaton College completed the fall season ranked 17th in the NCAA Division III United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings, as the Lyons posted their second-highest ranking in the 10th year of the program. Following last fall's number-15 ranking, Wheaton finds itself in the 17th spot overall and fourth position in New England through the second standings of the fall competition. The program is presented by the nation's athletics directors.

Wheaton has amassed an impressive 147 points and is just three points shy of Wheaton College of Illinois' 150 points. Williams College, which has won eight of the nine championships, is the current leader with 412 points, as the Ephs have scored points in all six fall sports. Messiah College is second with 266 points, followed by Washington University (MO) with 248 points, Middlebury College with 244 points and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with 218 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 second 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 totaled 83 points courtesy of their women's soccer program and 64 points from the men's soccer team. Head coach Luis Reis and the women made their first NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance in the 26-year history of the program. Tying their all-time single-season win total with an overall record of 23-1-2 and a program-best 25-game unbeaten streak, the Lyons were one game away from competing for the national championship. Wheaton appeared in its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament and set a Division III-record 22 shutouts.

On the men's side, head coach Matt Cushing and the Lyons reached the NCAA Tournament round of 16 for the third straight time, as Wheaton completed the season with an overall record of 17-4-2. Appearing in their fifth NCAA Tournament and fourth in the last five seasons, the Lyons extended last year's program-best unbeaten streak to 19 games to begin this season. After its 19-game stretch came to a halt, Wheaton began another unbeaten streak that went a solid 13 games.

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.