AMHERST, Massachusetts -- Amherst College is currently ranked 11th in the race for the Division III Sears Directors' Cup, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears. Fall standings include team finishes in NCAA-sponsored championships in the sports of cross country, field hockey, football, soccer and women's volleyball.
Amherst's claims its current standing behind top-10 national finishes by its soccer teams. The men soared to their first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance to finish with a 12-5-2 record and a No. 4 national ranking, the highest in Amherst men's history. The women fell just one goal short of repeating their Final Four appearance as they concluded the 1997 season in the National Quarterfinals with a 12-3 mark and No. 7 ranking. The women were making their fourth straight NCAA appearance while the men earned their third trip in five years.
Last year, Amherst finished seventh overall for Division III institutions.
A new scoring structure was implemented this year in which points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports - nine for men and nine for women. Each national champion receives 100 points (last year, first place was worth 64 points), while second place is worth 80 points (exceptions include brackets of eight and fewer teams).
There are four Sears Directors' Cup Awards, one to honor the institution with the best all-around athletics program in each of the NCAA's Divisions I, II, III and the NAIA. It is the first-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recogntion award for men and women.
Final Fall Sears Directors' Cup Standings Rank Institution Points 1. Cortland State (NY) 240 2. UC-San Diego 230 3. College of New Jersey 190 4. Hobart/William Smith (NY) 180 Mount Union (OH) 180 6. Washington (MO) 160 7. Wheaton (IL) 120 8. Calvin (MI) 110 Middlebury (VT) 110 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 110 11. Amherst (MA) 100 Emory (GA) 100 Ithaca (NY) 100 Mary Washington (VA) 100 North Central (IL) 100 Wisconsin-La Crosse 100 # # # 1/6/98