RFC Summer Semester--Liberty League Preview (NCAA Division III)

Liberty League Preview (NCAA Division III)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Hobart took home the 2011 Liberty League championship, despite playing just eight games during the regular season.  The Statesmen fell to eventual national semifinalist Wesley, 35-28, in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Looking ahead: Springfield College out of Massachusetts joins the LL from the Empire 8 Conference this season.  That gives the conference eight teams for the 2012 campaign.

 2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Hobart (7-2):  28 proved to be the unlucky number for the Statesmen in 2011.  That's the exact number of points they scored in both of their losses last season.  They blew an early 28-7 in losing their lone regular season contest to RPI, 29-28, on November 5, followed by the season ending loss to Wesley to in the opening round of the D-III dance by the final score of, you guessed it, 35-28, just two weeks later.  So, the key to beating the Statesmen in 2012 just might be that opponents might have to hold them to exactly 28 points scoring.


2. Union (N.Y.)--(6-4):  If there's any team in the LL that might seriously challenge Hobart for the conference's automatic bid to the D-III playoffs, the Dutch just might be that team.  After starting last season at 0-3, the Dutch caught fire, winning six of their final seven contests, including a season-ending four-game winning streak. The only loss they had during that span: a 41-24 setback to Hobart on October 8. Hopefully, the momentum they built at the end of last season will carry over into this season.  Oh, and just one other side note: under current head coach John Audino, Union has had just one sub-.500 season in his 20 years at the helm, with the Dutch finishing a dismal 2-7 in 2010.


3. RPI (4-5):  The Engineers upset win over Hobart was the primary bright spot of an otherwise mediocre 2011 season, as they were 3-4 in games decided by 10 points or less.   They'll be tested tremendously in their 2012 season opener on September 8, when they play host to Alfred.  Additionally, the Engineers will host Hobart on October 20.


4. Rochester (4-5):  The Yellowjackets will four games at home, and five on the road, in 2012.  One of those away games will be played on September 15, when they face NCAA Division III playoff quarterfinalist St. John Fisher.


5. U.S. Merchant Marine (3-7):  The Mariners hope to improve on last season's 2-4 Liberty League mark.


6. Springfield (6-4):  The Pride finished their final season in the Empire 8 Conference with a respectable 4-3 record in league games.  It'll be interesting to see if they can least match that mark in their rookie season in the LL.


7. St. Lawrence (3-6):  The Saints hope that 2012 will be kind to them after a disappointing 2011 campaign.  That followed a 2010 campaign that resulted in a 5-1 conference record (5-6 overall) that put them in the D-III dance as the Liberty League's automatic qualifier.


8. WPI (2-7):  The Engineers will start the 2012 season trying a snap a five-game skid that ended their 2011 campaign.