Looking back: A "down season" in the Liberty League resulted in an unlikely champion: St. Lawrence. The Saints advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs as that conference's automatic qualifier despite finishing the regular season at .500 (5-5). But they finished LL play at 5-1, good enough for a first place finish. They were quickly ushered out of postseason play by Mount Union, 49-0, in the first round. Additionally, no team won more than six games overall in 2010.
Looking ahead: Expect the LL to fare much better on the field in 2011. That means the Saints won't be sneaking up on anyone.
Website: http://www.libertyleaguesports.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Rensselaer (RPI)--(6-4): The Engineers finished 4-2 in Liberty League action last season. They hope to finish on top this season with a new head coach in Tim Landis.
2. St. Lawrence (5-6): With a tough non-conference schedule that includes games against an ECAC bowl team (Norwich), as well as a D-III playoff team (Alfred), the Saints will have a rocky road to travel to get back to the D-III playoffs.
3. Merchant Marine (4-6): The Mariners finished a respectable 3-3 in LL play last season. They'll face a Johns Hopkins squad that crushed Lebanon Valley, 44-14, in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl last season.
4. Rochester (4-5): A season-ending, 35-34, double overtime win over Hobart gives the Yellow Jackets faithful a little bit of hope heading into 2011.
5. Hobart (5-4): The Statesmen look to rebound after missing out on postseason play the last two years (6-3 in 2009).
6. WPI (3-7): A promising 3-1 start disintegrated into a disappointing finish for the Engineers, as they ended the 2010 season with six straight losses.
7. Union (N.Y.)--(2-7): The Dutch will also try to put a dismal 2010 campaign behind them, as they ended last season on a six-game skid as well. Ironically, their last win of last year came against WPI.
5 years ago
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