May 24, 2010

2009-10 Patriot League Presidents' Cup (Final)

Center Valley, Pa. - After posting one of the top seasons in League history, Bucknell has been awarded the Patriot League Presidents' Cup for the 16th time overall and fifth year in a row, it was announced Monday by Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich. The Bison also won the male and female trophies, earning their 16th female crown and seventh male title while also sweeping all three honors for the sixth time.

Bucknell earned 123.75 points to take the overall crown, the fourth-highest point total in the 20-year history of the Patriot League Presidents' Cup. They were followed in order by Navy (108.5), Lehigh (103), Army (98.25), Colgate (80), Lafayette (70), Holy Cross (67.25) and American (64.75).

On the men's side, the Bison amassed 59.5 points to claim the crown for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Bucknell was followed by Lehigh (52.5), Navy (51.5), Army (51), Lafayette (44.25), Colgate (29.5) and American and Holy Cross tied with 28.75.

The Bison claimed the women's crown for the 13th consecutive season by posting 64.25 points to outpace Navy (57). Colgate and Lehigh were tied for third with 50.5 points, and rounding out the standings were Army (47.25), Holy Cross (38.5), American (36) and Lafayette (25.75).

Bucknell won eight titles in 2009-10, matching the most for any school since the 1996-97 season and tying for the fifth-highest total all-time. It was the highest number of championships for any school other than Army and equal to the Bison's total in the 2005-06 campaign. The Bison swept all three titles for the first time since the 2006-07 season, and have recorded six of the eight title sweeps in Patriot League history. Bucknell won the overall trophy for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons.

The Bison accumulated most of their Patriot League titles with a dominant spring season where they won five of the 10 crowns. Bucknell earned the Patriot League Championship in baseball, softball, men and women's outdoor track and field and rowing in the spring to go with earlier titles in men's soccer, women's cross country and women's indoor track and field. The spring success also included a runner-up finish in the Women's Tennis Championship.

While the 2009-10 season will be remembered for Bucknell's haul of titles, it also marked just the fifth time in Patriot League history that every school won at least one title, and only the second occasion and first since 1998-99 where each school earned sole possession of at least one crown.

Navy was next in the Presidents' Cup standings, and followed Bucknell in Patriot League titles with five. The Mids swept the swimming and diving championships while also winning it all in men's cross country, men's tennis and women's lacrosse. The Mids finished in second place overall for the fourth straight season.

Lehigh's third-place finish matched its highest position since the 2000-01 season. The Mountain Hawks captured two of the highest-profile Patriot League titles by winning both the regular-season and Tournament crowns in men and women's basketball.

Army placed in the top four of the overall Presidents' Cup standings for the 18th consecutive year. The Black Knights tallied four titles in the 2009-10 season, winning the crown in volleyball, men's indoor track and field, women's tennis and men's lacrosse.

Each of the final four teams in the standings won one Patriot League title in 2009-10. Colgate claimed the women's soccer title, while Lafayette won it all in golf, Holy Cross was crowned champion in football and American continued its dominance in field hockey.

Bucknell and Army are the only two institutions to win the overall Patriot League Presidents' Cup, with the Bison earning 16 titles and the Black Knights taking home four (1994, 1995, 1997, 2005).

Patriot League Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular season and postseason Patriot League standings across the League's 23 Division I sports. In cross country, football, golf, rowing, swimming and diving and track and field, the points are awarded on the final team standings. In team sports with postseason tournaments, points are awarded based on a combination of a team's finish at the Patriot League Championship and the regular-season standings.

Patriot League Presidents' Cup Standings

Overall
1. Bucknell, 123.75 (23)
2. Navy, 108.5 (20)
3. Lehigh, 103 (23)
4. Army, 98.25 (19)
5. Colgate, 80 (22)
6. Lafayette, 70 (22)
7. Holy Cross, 67.25 (23)
8. American, 64.75 (15)
(#) - Number of Patriot League sports (all seasons)

Men
1. Bucknell, 59.5
2. Lehigh, 52.5
3. Navy, 51.5
4. Army, 51
5. Lafayette, 44.25
6. Colgate, 29.5
7. Holy Cross, 28.75
American, 28.75

Women
1. Bucknell, 64.25
2. Navy, 57
3. Colgate, 50.5
Lehigh, 50.5
5. Army, 47.25
6. Holy Cross, 38.5
7. American, 36
8. Lafayette, 25.75