May 13, 2003
2002-03 Patriot League President's Cup Final Results
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Bucknell won two spring championships and reached triple digits for the fourth straight year, finishing with 106.5 points, to capture the 2002-03 Presidents' Cup for the sixth-straight year and 10th time in the 13-year history of the League.
The Bison edged Army (99.50) and American (99.25) for the overall Presidents' Cup championship in the second-closest race in League history. Rounding out the overall scoring among the eight full-member institutions were Lehigh (90.25), Colgate (79.75), Lafayette (65.75), Holy Cross (63.50) and Navy (57.50).
The only race closer than this year's 7.25-point margin between the top three teams was in the 1991-92 academic year, when BU (114.5), Lehigh (113.0) and Lafayette (108.5) finished with just a six-point margin among the top three teams.
Bucknell won both the men's and women's Presidents' Cup championships on the way to the overall crown for the 2002-03 season. In the men's standings, BU tallied 50.75 points to top Army (49.00), American (45.00) and Lehigh (45.00). On the women's side, the Bison scored 55.75 points to edge American (54.25) for the top spot, followed by Army (49.75) and Lehigh (45.25).
BU won or shared the title in five out of 22 PL championship sports, including baseball, men's swimming and diving, men's lacrosse (co-champion with Army), women's indoor track & field, women's swimming & diving. The Bison also finished among the top three teams in seven other sports, including men's cross country (third), men's indoor track & field (third), men's outdoor track & field (second), women's cross country (second), women's lacrosse (third) and women's outdoor track & field (third) and volleyball (third).
Army edged American, which posted the largest improvement in the final standings compared to the 2001-02 season, for second place by just one quarter of a point. The Black Knights' strong showing in the men's sports, with three championships and two other top-three finishes, pushed Army (49.00) past the Eagles (45.00) and Lehigh (45.00). Army took home the championship trophy in men's indoor track & field, men's lacrosse (co-champions with Bucknell), men's outdoor track & field and women's tennis.
American, in just its second year with the Patriot League, led the League with six championships this year, including both cross country crowns, men's tennis, women's lacrosse, women's soccer and volleyball. The Eagles also recorded top three finishes in field hockey (third), men's soccer (third), men's basketball (second), men's swimming and diving (third), men's outdoor track & field (third), women's basketball (second in regular-season; third in playoffs) and women's tennis (third in regular-season; second in tournament).
Lehigh finished fourth in the overall standings despite being the only institution that did not win a League title during the 2002-03 season. However, the Mountain Hawks were strong across the board, finishing among the top four teams in the League in 11 out of 22 sports. LU's best performances were second-place finishes in golf, men's soccer, men's swimming & diving and volleyball.
Colgate, which placed fifth overall, captured two championship trophies this season after being shutout the past two years. CU opened the season strong with a football co-championship (with Fordham) and ended with the team title and NCAA automatic playoff bid in softball. In between, the Raiders added top four finishes in men's lacrosse, men's tennis, women's soccer, women's lacrosse and women's tennis.
Navy and Holy Cross each captured a pair of team trophies this year. HC swept the two basketball championships during the winter season for the second time in three years while Navy picked up two title during the spring season in golf and women's outdoor track & field. Lafayette's lone championship in 2002-03 was in field hockey.
Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular-season and post-season PL standings. In cross country, football, golf, swimming & diving and track & field, the points are awarded on the final team standings. In team sports with post-season tournaments, such as basketball, field hockey, soccer and volleyball, points are awarded based on a combination of the League championship tournament and regular-season standings.
2002-03 Presidents' Cup Final Standings
OVERALL STANDINGS
Institution Points
1. Bucknell (22) 106.50
2. Army (19) 99.50
3. American (18) 99.25
4. Lehigh (22) 90.25
5. Colgate (21) 79.75
6. Lafayette (22) 65.75
7. Holy Cross (20) 63.50
8. Navy (12) 57.50
MEN'S STANDINGS
Institution Points
1. Bucknell (11) 50.75
2. Army (10) 49.00
T3. American (8) 45.00
T3. Lehigh (11) 45.00
5. Colgate (10) 40.25
6. Lafayette (11) 38.50
7. Holy Cross (10) 30.50
8. Navy (6) 22.75
WOMEN'S STANDINGS
Institution Points
1. Bucknell (11) 55.75
2. American (10) 54.25
3. Army (9) 49.75
4. Lehigh (11) 45.25
5. Colgate (11) 39.50
6. Navy (6) 34.75
7. Holy Cross (10) 33.00
8. Lafayette (11) 27.25
(#)-number of Patriot League sports