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Calvin Takes Over Division III Learfield Director’s Cup Lead
The latest set of Division III Learfield Director’s Cup standings have been released and Calvin has taken over the lead with 308.50 points. The latest set of standings include the sports of men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s field hockey and volleyball. Middlebury (Vt.) is in second with 306.5 points. Calvin received 90 points from its national runner-up women’s volleyball team and men’s cross country team and 56 points from its women’s cross country team that placed 18th at the NCAA III Championships. In addition, Calvin picked up 50 points from its women’s soccer team that reached the second round of the NCAA III Tournament and 25 points from its men’s soccer team that reached the first round of the NCAA III Tournament. Calvin had been in second place in the first set of standings released two weeks ago but has since moved up to first place due to points gained through its men’s and women’s soccer teams.
Francesca Smith and Danielle Carter Receive NSCAA Division III All-Central Region Honors
Two members of the Calvin women’s soccer team have received Division III All-Central Region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Senior Francesca Smith has been named to the Division III All-Central Region second team while junior Danielle Carter has been named to the third team. A midfielder, Smith hails from Bloomington, Indiana. She is a graduate of Bloomington South High School. She is receiving all-region honors for the second time as she was a third team all-region choice in 2010. This fall, Smith tallied five goals, five assists and 15 points while landing a spot on the All-MIAA first team for the third straight year. A four-year starter in midfield, Smith accumulated 18 goals and 20 assists during her Calvin career for a total of 56 points.
A native of DeWitt and a graduate of DeWitt High School, Carter was also a part of Calvin’s midfield attack this fall. She tallied a career-high eight goals this fall while also assisting on four others. Of her eight goals, four were game-winners including an overtime strike in a 1-0 win at Saint Mary’s in September and a memorable score with just one second left in the first overtime of a 2-1 win over Hope in the MIAA Tournament final. Carter was also named to the All-MIAA first team this fall. Heading into her senior year of play, she has amassed 15 goals, eight assists and 38 points.
Calvin Second in First Set of Division III Learfield Director’s Cup Standings
The first set of Division III Learfield Director’s Cup standings have been released and Calvin is currently in second place with 233.50 points. The first set of standings include the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, women’s field hockey and volleyball. Middlebury leads the standings with 256.50 points. Calvin received 90 points from its national runner-up women’s volleyball team and men’s cross country team and 56 points from its women’s cross country team that placed 18th at the NCAA III Championships last weekend. The Learfield Director’s Cup is based on points earned by teams that compete in NCAA Championship events and is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) to the best overall collegiate athletics program in the country. The Learfield Director’s Cup race is held at the NCAA I, II and III levels and also for NAIA institutions.
