Thursday, December 17, 2009

LANDMARK RELEASES FIRST SPORTSMANSHIP CUP STANDINGS; MORAVIAN IN FIFTH PLACE

MADISON, N.J. – Following the completion of the fall sports season the Juniata College sits atop the standings for the inaugural Landmark Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Sportsmanship Cup. With six of the 20 Landmark sports completing their seasons Juniata has compiled a score of 9.5 to hold on to the first position. The Catholic University of America sits in second place with a score of 7.67. Goucher College and the United States Merchant Marine Academic complete the top half of the standings with 6.67 and 6.00 points respectively.

The Landmark SAAC Sportsmanship Cup was adopted prior to the 2009-10 academic year and is designed to recognize the Landmark institution that demonstrates the best overall sportsmanship over the course of the year. The Cup is awarded based on a formula that compiles the votes of each Landmark coach in consultation with their team captains ranking the top-3 sportsmanship programs in their respective sports. The formula also takes into account the number of sports an institution sponsors.

In addition to the overall Sportsmanship Cup, the Landmark recognizes the team which earns the most points in each of the six sports as the team sportsmanship winners. The recipients for the fall are: Moravian College field hockey, Juniata men’s cross country, USMMA women’s volleyball, Juniata men’s soccer, Susquehanna University women’s soccer, and a tie between Catholic and Juniata women’s cross country.

Juniata’s overall point total was buoyed by its wins in men’s soccer and men’s and women’s cross country, while the Eagles also earned points in each of the other three fall sports.

Catholic also received points in all six sports, faring particularly well in cross country where it served as the host for the Landmark Cross Country Championships. Catholic’s Landmark Championship men’s and women’s soccer teams both also earned significant points.

Goucher likewise picked up points across all six Landmark fall sports. The Gophers finished in the top half of the voting in each of the sports, bolstered by second-place finishes in men’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball.

USMMA’s fourth-place position was bolstered by its top finish in volleyball and captured points in each of the fall sports the school sponsors.

The Landmark SAAC Sportsmanship Cup voting will continue through the 2009-10 academic year eventually crowning the first Landmark SAAC Sportsmanship Cup winner at the end of the season.

Release courtesy of Landmark Conference Office