Heartland Division to Begin 2009 Season at Carleton

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Grinnell College, Lindenwood University, Iowa State University, Illinois State University, Knox College and Illinois Wesleyan University will travel to Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. this weekend to open the 2009 Heartland Division season.

The tournament is important, although not critical as the history of the championship shows, to each team's hopes of capturing the Heartland Division title, as it marks the only regular season tournament and chance to earn a high seed for the division championship on April 18-19 at Grinnell College.

In a wide open race, each of the division's seven-teams have a chance at coming out of the weekend unscathed with the No. 1 seed for the championship tournament firmly in hand.

If history is any indicator, the previous division champions should be favored as Lindenwood University, which has taken the last two division championships, will seek to become the first time in division history to capture three straight titles this year, erasing the previous mark of two which the Lions share with now varsity Macalester College (2003-04).

But if the past few years are an indication of this year's championship season, the Lions drive for history may be cut short as balance has been the hallmark of the Heartland Division.

Over the last four years, seven teams (Wheaton College, Macalester, Lindenwood, Carleton, Iowa State) have advanced to the title game with three different champions (2005 - Wheaton, 2006 - Carleton, 2007-08 - Lindenwood), putting all seven teams in contention

The best example of the balance among the teams occurred last year when Grinnell and Carleton both finished 4-0 during the regular season to clinch the No. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively, for the championship.  However, Lindenwood, which finished 1-3 in regular season play to earn the No. 5 seed, got hot at the right time downing Grinnell (9-8 W) in the first game of the championship tournament and handling Carleton 4-3 in the title tilt to capture its second straight division crown.

Over the past two years, the team which earns the No. 1 seed for the championship after performing well at the opening tournament does not go on to win the title as prior to Lindenwood's ascent from fifth in the regular season to champions last year, the Lions earned the third seed in 2007 before going on to win the title. 

In the three prior championships before Lindenwood's current two-year run a top the division, the No. 1 seed did win the title as Carleton (2006), Wheaton (2005) and Macalester (2004), giving hope to the potential division front-runners.

A complete bracket of the divsision games is available on the Heartland Division page.