Diplomats Lead Centennial Conference to Top of LaxPower.com Men's Lacrosse Conference Power Ratings

by Sports Information
6/26/03

LANCASTER, PA -- The Centennial Conference has jumped to the top of the Division III men's lacrosse world as the Conference is ranked first in the 2003 LaxPower.com Conference Power Ratings.

Compiled based upon non-conference games, ratings were based upon the final score and strength of each team's opponents.

The rating marks a one spot improvement for the CC as Dickinson, Haverford, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, McDaniel, Muhlenberg, Swarthmore, Ursinus and Washington combined for a record of 38-14 for an 85.90 power rating and a 5.15 rating increase from the Conference's 35-16 record and 80.75 mark in 2002.

Among the Conferences, the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) finished first in 2002 with a 29-15 record and 81.86 rating, while the Old Dominion Conference was third with a 35-19 mark and 79.48 rating. In 2003, the Capital Athletic Conference jumped to second with a 29-18 record an 85.61 rating, while the NESCAC slipped to third with a 35-12 record and 85.22 mark.

Leading the way for the Centennial Conference in 2003 was Franklin & Marshall College as the Diplomats finished fifth in the nation, ranked #9 in the final USILA Division III national poll and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament. In the tournament, F&M advanced to the quarterfinals before being defeated by eventual national champion Salisbury University.

The NCAA playoff berth marked the third in program history (1988, 1990, and 1995) as the Diplomats finished the year with a 12-4 mark for the best record since the 1988 team went 13-3 and advanced to the "Final Four".

Out of Conference during the regular season, F&M finished undefeated knocking off Denison (12-7 W), Marymount (17-3 W), Washington & Lee (5-4 W), Randolph Macon (11-6 W) and Goucher (10-6 W) for a perfect 5-0 record.

Overall, Franklin & Marshall was the only Centennial Conference school to defeat W&L this year as Gettysburg and Washington fell by 10-9 and 6-5 finals to the Generals, respectively. Further, the win marked F&M's first over W&L since a 10-9 overtime win at home on Sponaugle-Williamson Field on March 30, 1996.

Key to the Diplomats' success in 2003 was the play of All-America selections Bryan Nolan (Sr., Scottsdale, AZ/Western Reserve) and Jon Singer (Sr., Reisterstown, MD/Boys' Latin).

An All-CC first team selection, Nolan tallied 37-10-47 this year to tie for third in scoring on the team with Beau Smith (Sr., Baltimore, MD/Gilman) and finish his career with 87-38-125.

Against two-time defending national championship runner-up Gettysburg College, he scored a game high five goals in a 15-12 victory which snapped a 15-game losing streak to the Bullets. F&M’s last victory in the series was an 18-8 decision in the teams’ 1990 season finale.
The team's leading scorer, Singer tallied 26-30-56 while earning All-Centennial Conference first team honors.

An NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship candidate, pre-season honorable mention All-America selection, Verizon Academic All-District II selection and a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association/STX North-South All-Star Game selection, he continued a string of success this year following back-to-back standout seasons as a sophomore and junior.

A 2001 Honorable Mention and 2002 Second Team All-CC recipient, Singer led the team in goals scored in 2002 (24) and 2001 (27) to conclude his career at the College with 92-55-147.

A complete list of ratings for the conferences in Divisions I, II and III are available online at www.laxpower.com/common/ConfPR-2003.php

LaxPower.com Division III Men's Lacrosse Conference Ratings (Record, Rating)
1. Centennial (38-14, 85.90)
2. Capital (29-18, 85.61)
3. NESCAC (35-12, 85.22)
4. Upstate (36-17, 84.39)
5. Old Dominion (34-20, 83.79)
6. North Coast (21-16, 83.65)
7. SUNYAC (33-27, 83.55)
8. Empire 8 (31-27, 83.27)
9. Little East (21-29, 81.52)
10. Knickerbocker (21-26, 80.41)
11. Commonwealth (26-30, 80.16)
12. Pilgrim (24-39, 79.67)
13. Middle Atlantic (15-33, 79.33)
14. Pennsylvania Athletic (10-31, 78.26)