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SIUE Athletics | |
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TOP TEN 1. Grand Valley State 974.75 2. Abilene Christian 592.5 3. Nebraska-Omaha 591 4. SIU Edwardsville 569.25 5. Cal State Bakersfield 518 6. UC San Diego 497.5 7. Central Missouri State 483.75 8. Cal State Chico 481 8. Minnesota State Mankato 481 10. Lynn 471 USA Today Article NACDA Web Site Final Standings |
June 22, 2006 SIUE Finishes Fourth in U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. - With fantastic finishes in every season, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Athletics Department finished fourth nationally in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup among NCAA Division II schools. It is far and above SIUE's best-ever finish in the standings which awards points based on a team's national finish in up to seven men's sports and seven women's sports. "This is the result of a plan put in place more than five years ago to enhance Cougar Athletics," said SIUE Director of Athletics. "It just wasn't expected that all of the teams would play to this level so quickly." SIUE trailed only champion Grand Valley State (Mich.), Abilene Christian (Texas) and Nebraska-Omaha in the Directors' Cup standings. Several SIUE teams posted their best finish in school history. "It has been an outstanding year from start to finish," said Hewitt. The Cougar men's basketball team made its first appearance in the Elite Eight, winning the Great Lakes Region as the No. 7 seed. SIUE posted a school-record 25 wins under Coach Marty Simmons. The SIUE men's soccer team advanced to the national semifinal game with a 16-3-3 record under Coach Ed Huneke. It was the third time in four years that the Cougars had advanced to the national semifinals. SIUE softball Coach Sandy Montgomery and her Cougars hoisted the Great Lakes Regional trophy for the first team and advanced to its first NCAA Division II finals appearance in school history. The Cougars broke the school record with 52 victories. The SIUE men's and women's track and field teams each placed seventh at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Holly Noller (Pawnee) became the first person in school history to win an individual title at the NCAA Outdoor Nationals. Ten individuals and a relay team walked away with All-American honors. The men's and women's track and field teams, under Coaches David Astrauskas and Ben Beyers, also recorded eight All-Americans and were among the top finishers at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The SIUE volleyball team, winners of its first Great Lakes Valley Conference title, advanced to the Great Lakes Regional semifinals. Coach Todd Gober and his Cougars broke the school record for consecutive victories with 19 straight wins. The Cougar women's soccer team, under Coach Lynda Bowers, also broke the school record for wins (17), shutouts (12) and consecutive wins (10). The SIUE baseball team, under Coach Gary Collins, was the final GLVC team to be eliminated from the Great Lakes Regional after boasting the No. 1 pitching staff in the country. The pitching staff shattered the NCAA record for shutouts with 21. SIUE runner Brian Taghon (East Moline) also shined as an individual with a 40th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championships. The SIUE men's and women's golf teams also advanced to the NCAA Championships. The SIUE men, reinstated as an intercollegiate program this past season, placed third at the Great Lakes Regional. The SIUE women made its fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Championships and finished fifth in the East Regional. The U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. The United States Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Ala., is the program sponsor. -siue cougars- |