Syracuse Attains Highest Fall Ranking in Learfield Sports Directors' Cup

     Syracuse's athletics program is enjoying one of its best years in school history. The Orange ranks second in the 2015-16 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, which is the highest final fall ranking ever for the Orange. The men's cross country and field hockey teams won National Championships, while the men's soccer team advanced to the College Cup for the first time ever, and the women's cross country squad finished 12th at the NCAA Championship.

     "We are proud of our student-athletes and coaches and their accomplishments," said Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "Winning two National Championships in a span of 24 hours was remarkable and to have our men's soccer team and women's cross country programs excel at that level was terrific. We appreciate their hard work and dedication, and their commitment to representing Syracuse in all that they do."

     Head coach Chris Fox guided the men's cross country to the program's first National Championship since 1951. It was the seventh time in his 11-year tenure that the Orange have participated in the National Championship meet and it is the team's third consecutive top 10 finish. Sophomore Justyn Knight led the way for the Orange, taking fourth overall in 29:46.1, with teammates Colin Bennie and Martin Hehir right behind, as they have been all season, in eighth and ninth overall. Philo Germano and Joel Hubbard rounded out the Syracuse scoring. Fox, who led the Orange men to their third Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, earned National Coach of the Year honors.

     Field hockey coach Ange Bradley led the Orange to the program's first NCAA Championship and the first NCAA title for any women's sport in school history. The Orange beat North Carolina 4-2 in the title game, capping a 21-1 season. The victory avenged the only loss of the season for the Orange, which was to UNC in the ACC Tournament Championship game earlier in the month. Bradley has guided the Orange to the Final Four in three of the last four seasons and four overall. It was the eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for Syracuse.

     The women's cross country team also turned in a historic performance finishing 12th, which is the second-best finish in program history. In 2010 the Orange finished a program-best 10th. This year, Margo Malone led the Orange across the line for the third time in her career, finishing 52nd overall, while teammate Shaylyn Tuite was 55th. Sydney Leiher, Cassia Hameline and Rebecca Skodis rounded out the 'Cuse scoring. Syracuse has placed in the top 25 in three consecutive seasons and has earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship meet in seven of Fox's 11 years at the helm.

     The Orange men's soccer team's College Cup appearance added 83 points to Syracuse's first place standing in the 2015-16 Head coach Ian McIntyre and the Orange advanced to the College Cup for the first time in school history. The team's 16-5-4 record was one win shy of the school record for victories in a season. The Orange claimed its first ACC Championship and earned a program-best No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse made its first appearance in the Elite Eight, where it defeated Boston College, 1-0, to advance to the College Cup.

Syracuse University Athletics

Syracuse Attains Highest Fall Ranking in Learfield Sports Directors' Cup

Players Mentioned

Colin Bennie

Colin Bennie

Philo Germano

Cassia Hameline

Martin Hehir

Joel Hubbard

Joel Hubbard

Justyn Knight

Sydney Leiher

Margo Malone

Rebecca Skodis

Shaylyn Tuite

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