Landmark Teams Well Represented In NCAA Regional Rankings

MADISON, N.J. - Several Landmark Conference teams were included in the NCAA Regional Rankings reports released Tuesday, Oct. 27. These were the second regional rankings released by the respective NCAA Division III Sport Committee. There will be one more set of rankings released prior to the NCAA Championship selection.

The Landmark has teams ranked in each of its fall sports that releases rankings. The Juniata volleyball and field hockey teams, the USMMA and Catholic men's soccer teams, and the Scranton women's soccer team all currently have earned spots in the rankings. The records included below are those listed in the NCAA Regional Rankings release.

Men's soccer is the only sport with two Landmark teams in the rankings, as USMMA holds the fifth spot and Catholic is ranked seventh in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Mariners are 15-2 in the region and overall after rolling off 14-straight wins during the season. Catholic is 12-3-1 both overall and in-region, and clinched its second-straight Landmark postseason berth with a win over Drew this past weekend.

The Juniata volleyball team is the highest ranked Landmark team, as the Eagles' 16-0 in-region record has them ranked first in the Mid-Atlantic. Juniata is 26-2 overall on the year, and is the top seed for the upcoming Landmark postseason.

Juniata field hockey has also earned the top seed for the Landmark postseason after going 6-0 in conference regular season play. The Eagles are 14-3 overall and 13-3 in the region, good for a 5th-place ranking in the South Atlantic Region.

Scranton has a 11-3-1 record overall and in the region, which is good enough for a seventh-place ranking in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Royals have just one loss and one tie in non-conference play, but got off to a slow start in conference play, and will need to win their season finale and get help to earn a Landmark postseason bid.

The NCAA does not create regional rankings for cross country, as participation in the NCAA Championships is based on performance at the eight NCAA Regional Championships.

This marks the first season in which Landmark Conference Champions will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament field.