SYRACUSE ATHLETICS CLOSES HISTORIC YEAR RANKED 50TH IN THE DIRECTORS’ CUP STANDINGS

The 2011-12 Syracuse University athletics performance is the best in school history. The Orange ranks 50^th in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup – the highest ranking ever for the program. A school-record nine different teams accounted for Syracuse’s school-record 452.5 points. The Orange program has scored more than 300 points in each of the last four years after having reached that mark just once before in school history.

“We are so proud of our coaches and student-athletes for their accomplishments,” said director of athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. “In addition to the outstanding programs that scored NACDA points, our men’s rowing program, which does not score points in the Directors’ Cup, finished fifth in the country. It is exciting to know that we are getting better every year and moving toward our goal of becoming one of the top programs in the country in all sports.”

The Orange softball team registered 50 points for its performance in the NCAA Tournament, which was its third consecutive postseason appearance. Head coach Leigh Ross guided the squad to the NCAA Regional Finals and the 23^rd spot in the final rankings, which is the highest finish for the Orange. Pitcher Jenna Caira earned All-America honors.

Senior Jarret Eaton finished sixth in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, scoring 15 points for Syracuse. The hurdler won the NCAA Indoor 60-meter hurdles championship, becoming the first individual in program history to win an NCAA title and scoring 54.5 points for Syracuse.

The women’s and men’s lacrosse teams scored 90 and 25 points, respectively, boosting Syracuse to its highest point total and ranking in school history. Head coach Gary Gait directed the Orange women in the most successful season in school history and tallied Directors’ Cup points for the 10th time in the 15-year history of the program. Syracuse ranked second nationally in the final polls after advancing to the National Championship game for the first time in program history. Juniors Becca Block and Michelle Tumolo and sophomore Alyssa Murray earned All-America First Team honors and sophomore Katie Webster was named to the third team. In addition, Tumolo was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best player.

Men’s lacrosse scored points for the fifth year in a row and the 18th time in the 19-year history of the Directors’ Cup. Head coach John Desko led the Orange to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in his 14-year head coaching tenure.

The Orange men’s basketball team added 73 points to SU’s total. After recording the most wins in program history and the best start in program history, head coach Jim Boeheim’s team was the first SU squad to ever be ranked in the top five the entire season. The Orange won a record 17 BIG EAST conference games and senior Kris Joseph earned second-team All-America honors.

Field hockey head coach Ange Bradley directed her team to its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and its second consecutive BIG EAST Conference Tournament Championship as the field hockey program contributed 60 points in the Directors’ Cup. Syracuse finished with a 19-4 record en route to the program’s sixth BIG EAST Championship and was third in the final national ranking. Seniors Liz McInerney and Heather Susek, and junior Kelsey Millman earned All-America recognition.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams, under the guidance of three-time Northeast Region Coach of the Year Chris Fox, scored 45 and 40 points, respectively, for Syracuse in the Directors’ Cup. It is the fourth consecutive year the squads have registered points. The men finished 15th, while the women were 17^th at the NCAA Championship. Both the men and the women won the NCAA Northeast Regional titles for the third straight year. Senior Pat Dupont, who earned All-America honors for the second straight season, paced the men’s squad at the NCAA Championship with his 37th place finish, while senior Lauren Penney led the way for the women with her 29th-place All-American performance. She is the first female cross country All-American in Syracuse history.

Press release provided by SU Athletics