WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Westfield State claimed their third straight 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 117.84 points out of 160 possible (73.65 percent). The Owls were atop the standings in women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer and tied for first in volleyball. They also were second in men’s cross country, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field while tying for second in men’s and women’s basketball and softball.  

 

Coming in second is Bridgewater State with 106.34 points out of 148 possible (71.85 percent). The Bears were regular season champions in men’s cross country, football, women’s basketball and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field while also tying for first in baseball. They were tied for second in women’s soccer, men’s basketball, softball and women’s lacrosse. 

 

Rounding out the top three is Framingham State with 104.34 points (67.75 percent) out of 154 available. The Rams were first in softball and men’s soccer, tied for first in baseball and volleyball. They also secured the second spot in football while tying for second in women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse. 

 

Sitting in the fourth spot with 96.84 points out of 160 possible (60.53 percent) is Worcester State. The Lancers came in first in field hockey, men’s basketball and men’s ice hockey, tied for second in women’s lacrosse and softball and third in men’s soccer. 

 

Landing in fifth is Fitchburg State. The Falcons had 70.17 points out of 160 available (43.85 percent) after finishing second in women’s cross country and men’s ice hockey, tied for second in field hockey and women’s soccer and  third in men’s cross country and men’s outdoor track and field. 

 

Salem State is in the sixth spot with 40.50 points out of 120 available (33.75 percent). The Vikings  were second in men’s soccer, fourth in men’s basketball, tied for fourth in women’s basketball and fifth in field hockey, men’s ice hockey and women’s lacrosse. 

 

Closing out the 2022-23 standings are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Buccaneers collected 30 points (26.79 percent) out of 112 possible points and finished third in football, fifth in baseball and men’s outdoor track and field and sixth in softball. The Trailblazers netted 26 points (22.21 percent) out of 112 possible points after coming in third for volleyball, tied for fifth in men’s soccer and sixth in men’s basketball and tied for sixth in women’s basketball.