WESTFIELD, Mass. -- After the fall regular season wrapped up, Salem State has the most points in the first round of the Howard C. 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 15 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.

Sitting in the first spot, Salem State collected 33 points out of a possible 48 points (68.75 percent). The Vikings finished tied for first in men’s soccer, tied for second in women’s soccer, second in field hockey and sixth in volleyball at the end of the fall regular season.
 

Close behind in second with 52 points out of 76 possible (68.42 percent) is Framingham State. The Rams took home the top spot in football, tied for first in men’s soccer, second in volleyball, tied for third in field hockey and finished fourth and fifth in men’s and women’s cross country, respectively. 

Up next in third is Westfield State with 51.50 points (67.76 percent) out of 76 possible points. The Owls ended the fall first in women’s cross country, women’s soccer and volleyball while taking home the second slot in men’s cross country, fourth spot in football and tying for fourth in men’s soccer. 

Bridgewater State is in the fourth slot with 48.50 points (63.82 percent) out of 76 points. The Bears crossed the line as a team first in men’s cross country, were second in both women’s cross country and football, third in volleyball and tied for third in field hockey.
 

Grabbing the fifth slot is Worcester State with 44 points out of a possible 76 (57.89 percent). The Lancers finished first in field hockey, tied for second in women’s soccer, saw the men’s and women’s cross country teams finish third and the men’s soccer team tied for fourth at the end of the fall season. Fitchburg State lands in sixth with 30 points (39.47 percent) out of 76 available points. The Falcons were third in men’s soccer, fourth in men’s cross country, fifth in women’s cross country and football while tying for fifth in field hockey and women’s soccer.

Rounding out the fall standings are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Buccaneers collected 18.50 points (28.91 percent) out of 64 possible points. The team finished third in football and sixth in men’s and women’s cross country. The Trailblazers netted 11.50 points (22.12 percent) out of 52 possible points. They closed out fall fourth in volleyball and tied for seventh in women’s soccer.