WESTFIELD, Mass. -- For the fifth straight year, Westfield State earns the Howard C. Smith Cup after receiving the most points in the Smith Cup standings. The Smith Cup is awarded annually to the member institution which compiles the most points based on the placement of each of its programs competing in the league championship sports. 

The Smith Cup is named in honor of former Massachusetts State College Trustee Howard C. Smith, who in 1970, urged the athletic directors of the eight State institutions to hold a series of meetings to discuss the possibility of forming an intercollegiate conference. In June of 1971, Smith’s dream became a reality as an affirmative agreement was reached and the MASCAC was created.

Westfield State finished the year with 140.667 points out of 160 possible (87.92 percent). The Owls were atop the standings in women’s cross country, men’s basketball, softball, women’s outdoor track and field and volleyball. They also were tied for first in football and women’s lacrosse and second in field hockey, women’s soccer, men’s ice hockey, men’s outdoor track and field.

Coming in second is Bridgewater State with 114 points out of 148 possible (70.03 percent). The Bears were regular season champions in men’s and women’s soccer, men’s cross country, women’s basketball, men’s outdoor track and field and baseball. They came in second in men’s cross country and women’s outdoor track and field.

Rounding out the top three is Worcester State with 90.167 points (56.35 percent) out of 160 available. The Lancers tied for first in women’s lacrosse, third in field hockey, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, women’s outdoor track and field and softball.

Sitting in the fourth spot with 70.834 points out of 154 possible (46 percent) is Framingham State. The Rams came in second in softball, third in women’s cross country, tied for third in volleyball football and women’s lacrosse. 

Landing in fifth is Salem State. The Vikings had 52.667 points out of 120 available (43.89 percent) after finishing first in men’s ice hockey, second in men’s basketball, tied for second in women’s basketball, tied for fourth in baseball and tied for fifth in softball and women’s lacrosse.

Fitchburg State is in the sixth spot with 61 points out of 160 available points (38.13 percent). The Falcons were first in field  hockey, third in men’s soccer, men’s cross country and men’s outdoor track and field and fourth in women’s soccer and men’s ice hockey.

Closing out the 2024-25 standings are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Buccaneers collected 37.50 points (27.83 percent) out of 112 possible points and finished tied for second in baseball, tied for third in football, fifth in women’s cross country and men’s outdoor track and field and tied for fifth in women’s lacrosse.  For the Trailblazers with 23.167 points out of 92 available, they ended the year with tied for third in volleyball, tied for fifth in softball, men’s ice hockey and men’s basketball.