NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - It didn't come quite as easily for the Wilmington University men's athletic teams but the 2017-18 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Alfred R. Restaino Sr. Cup returns to Wilmington for the ninth straight year, with the women tying their overall best with a third place finish this past year.
The Georgian Court women's programs captured the women's cup, followed by Jefferson and the Wildcats. Bloomfield and Jefferson trailed the WilmU men's programs to round out the top three.
The cups are awarded annually to the institution that performs at the highest level in all CACC-sponsored men's and women's sports. The point system used for the award takes into account each athletic program's finish in both the 2017-18 CACC regular season contests and conference tournaments. Each institution receives a combined point total and the sum is then divided by the number of sports the institution sponsors.
The men's team needed to come from behind with their two spring sports this season, gaining much needed points from baseball's second place finishin the regular season and winning the CACC Tournament Championship. The first year men's lacrosse run to the CACC Tournament Semifinals garnered valuable points as well, helping the Wildcats jump from third to first following the winter season to capture their ninth straight Restaino Cup.
The Wildcats trailed Jefferson (11.8750 average) and Bloomfield (11.50) after winter sports with score of 11.3125 with baseball and men's lacrosse to play. The Wildcats finished with an 11.67 average with Bloomfield finishing second overall with an 11.15 average.
When combined, the Wilmington University athletics department finished second of 14 institutions with an average score of 11.00 for its 13 programs. Georgian Court University topped the fictional combined list with an average score of 11.3125 for its 12 programs.
The men's Restaino Cup was claimed with an 11.667 average over six sports, led by CACC Championships claimed by golf (14 points) and baseball (13 regular season points, 14 tournament points for a 13.5 average). Every sport averaged at least 10 points for the Wildcats, giving the department 70 total points for its six sports.
The Wildcat women tied its best finish from two years ago in third place, garnering 73 points throughout its seven sports. The women were led by a second place finish from cross country, tournament finalists women's soccer, and a regular season second place finish from softball. They finished with a 10.43 average, up from 9.2143 from 2016-17.
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2017-18 CACC Restaino Cup Standings
Men's Sports:
1. Wilmington – 11.67 average
2. Bloomfield – 11.15
3. Jefferson – 10.43
4. Georgian Court – 10.40
5. Post – 10.03
6. Dominican – 9.82
7. Goldey-Beacom – 9.80
8. Chestnut Hill – 9.75
9. Felician – 8.96
10. Nyack – 8.30
11. Concordia – 7.88
12. Caldwell – 7.35
13. USciences – 7.13
14. Holy Family – 5.94
Women's Sports:
1. Georgian Court – 11.96 average
2. Jefferson – 11.25
3. Wilmington – 10.43
4. Caldwell – 10.00
5. Holy Family – 9.06
6. Bloomfield – 8.79
7. Post – 8.38
8. USciences – 8.21
9. Chestnut Hill – 8.03
10. Goldey-Beacom – 7.92
11. Dominican – 7.39
12. Felician – 6.75
13. Nyack – 6.46
14. Concordia – 5.46