Wheaton stands tied for 58th in Sports Academy Directors' Cup rankings

CLEVELAND, OH- Wheaton College turned in another solid fall showing in the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings, as the Lyons finished their season in a tie for 58th among all NCAA Division III schools. Wheaton finished 35th in a pool of over 400 active member institutions a year ago. The Lyons are currently tied for ninth among New England institutions through the second rankings of this fall's competition. The program is presented by the nation's athletics directors.

Wheaton has accumulated 75 points to date, matching the totals of nine other schools, including local counterpart Tufts University. Sitting just eight points away from joining the top 50, the Lyons are 20 points behind 45th-place Wesleyan University. Wheaton is the top New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) member, with the United States Coast Guard Academy on its heels with 73 points.

Calvin College (Mich.) is currently the top Division III institution with 322 points after placing in the top nine in four sports. Washington University (Mo.) sits second with 283 points, while Messiah College (Pa.), Amherst College and The College of New Jersey aren't far behind with 273, 263 and 256 points, respectively. Williams College, which has claimed 10 of the 11 Cups, is sixth with 252 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 fourth 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.

Wheaton's point total was aided by both the men's and women's soccer teams, which each extended a streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The women finished with 50 points after reaching the second round, while the men tallied 25 points. The Lyon women reached 20 wins for the seventh time in eight seasons under head coach Luis Reis. Competing in their seventh successive NCAA Tournament, 21-2-1 Wheaton finished 19th in the last National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national poll. The Lyons carried a 19-game unbeaten streak into the second round.

The Wheaton men turned in an overall record of 12-5-4 after giving head coach Matt Cushing his 200th career win in just his 13th season with the program. Earning a bid to its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament, the Blue and White was competing in the field for the sixth time in seven seasons and seventh time overall. Wheaton carried an eight-game unbeaten streak at one point during the season and posted an 8-1-4 mark in the 13 games leading up to the NCAA Tournament.

Cup 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, as 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.