Dec. 8, 2004
American University, on the strength of four fall championships, holds the lead in the race for the 2004-05 Patriot League Presidents' Cup in standings released by the League office on Wednesday. The update includes all seven fall sports.
The Eagles are chasing their first-ever Presidents' Cup, and for the third consecutive year have accumulated over 40 points (41.75) during the fall season. Bucknell has won the Presidents' Cup 11 times overall, including the last seven in a row. Army is the only other school to take home the trophy, winning it on three occasions.
AU earned regular season and tournament championships in field hockey, men's soccer and volleyball this fall. Both the field hockey and men's soccer squads picked up first round victories in their respective NCAA Tournaments. The Eagles also finished first in men's cross country.
Just four points separate the teams ranked second through fifth in the standings. Lehigh (32.5) is second after sharing the PL football crown and finishing as runner-up in both men's and women's soccer.
Colgate (30.25) is third thanks to the women's soccer regular season and tournament titles, and a second place effort in field hockey. Bucknell (29.5) ranks fourth and Army (28.5), boosted by the women's cross country team title and a second place showing in volleyball, resides in fifth.
Rounding out the list is Navy in sixth with 25 points, Lafayette in seventh with 21.25 points and Holy Cross in eighth with 16.5 points. The Leopards were co-Patriot League champions in football, helping them move past the Crusaders, while the Midshipmen are competing in an all-time high 18 Patriot League sports this year. Navy was second in both men's and women's cross country this fall.
Breaking it down by gender, Lehigh is on top on the men's side and American is the current front-runner for the women's trophy.
Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular season and postseason. In cross country, football, golf, rowing, swimming & diving and track & field, the points are awarded on the final team standings. In team sports with postseason tournaments, points are awarded based on a combination of the League championship tournament and regular season standings.