Posted: Apr 28, 2009
Roanoke College remained atop the USILA Div. III weekly poll announced Monday afternoon. It is the program's second earned #1 ranking and the first time a sport in the Div. III-era at Roanoke has been the top in the nation. After claiming the 1978 National Championship, the Maroons were ranked #1 for the first half of the 1979 season before falling to North Carolina.
The Maroons moved into the new spot last week as the only Division III undefeated school after now #4 Stevenson fell, 14-7 to #5 Salisbury in the CAC Championship game, dethroning the then #1 team in the country. Both Roanoke and Salisbury received first-place votes in the coaches' poll, with the Maroons taking 12 of the 13 votes. Middlebury remained second and Ithaca moved up to the third spot.
Gettysburg holds down the #6 spot while Washington & Lee dropped for the second-straight week to 10th. Cortland, Haverford and Geneseo hold the 7, 8 and 9 spots, respectively.
Cabrini, who fell to Roanoke, 16-13, remained #14 in the poll. Other Maroon opponents in the poll are Lynchburg, who moved up three spots to 15th, and Williams, who dropped out of the poll but received votes. The Maroons defeated the Hornets, 19-12 on the road and needed overtime to get past the Ephs, 17-16.
The Maroons will begin its postseason run in the ODAC Semifinals against Hampden-Sydney Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m.
