Empire 8 places five institutions in fall 2013-14 Director's Cup Standings
Five Empire 8 athletic programs are ranked in the latest 2013-14
NCAA Division III Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings released on December 24. 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.
Ithaca College currently ranks 20th in the NCAA Division III standings, followed by St. John Fisher College (81st), Utica (97th), Stevens Institute of Technology (105th) and Nazareth (140th).
The Bombers scored points in three of the NCAA Championships conducted during the fall. The women’s soccer team tied for ninth nationally after advancing to the third round. The football team advanced to teh second round of the NCAA tournament, while women's cross country placed 23rd.
The Cardinals earned points as the football team wrapped up on of the most successful seasons in program history after posting a 10-3 record, which included a trip to the NCAA Division III Football Championship quarterfinals. Fisher's 10 wins marked the fifth time in the last ten years that it has notched double-digit wins in a season.
Utica ranked 97th in Division III thanks to its ninth place performance in field hockey for the second straight year.
The Ducks amassed 50 points due to their postseason success in men’s soccer, while Nazareth was the final Empire 8 team in the rankings at No. 140 thanks to a total of 25 points from its women’s volleyball team.
The next set of 2013-14 Director's Cup Standings will be announced following the conclusion of the winter sports season. The final standings are scheduled to come out in June following the conclusion of the academic year and spring athletic season.