WESTFIELD, Mass. – After the completion of the fall sports season, Bridgewater State University leads the league in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference 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.

Bridgewater State collected 75.66 percent (57.5 points) out of a possible 76 during the fall season to edge out Framingham State University, who was in second place with 75.00 percent (57 points) of a potential 76 points. Westfield State University was third with 65.13 percent (49.5 points) out of 76 points while Worcester State University was fourth with 56.58 percent (43 points) out of a potential 76 points to date.

Fitchburg State University lands in fifth with 44.53 percent with Salem State University following in sixth with 41.41 percent of the points possible. The Massachusetts Maritime Academy is in seventh place with 25.00 percent of the respective points, while MCLA finished the fall season with 23.08 percent of potential points.

Bridgewater State was the top MASCAC finisher in field hockey and finished second in women’s cross country and football. Framingham State finished first in both women’s soccer and football while Westfield State took home both men’s and women’s cross country titles and volleyball. Worcester State nabbed the regular season title in men’s soccer, as the final regular season standings in each sport are used to calculate the Smith Cup points.

Last year, Bridgewater State claimed its 10th Smith Cup in 16 years following the completion of competition for the academic year, as the Bears collected their second straight title. Salem State has claimed or shared 19 of 41 Smith Cups overall, while Bridgewater State and Westfield State follow with 13 and 10 respective Smith Cup crowns that have either been outright or shared.

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation’s first Division III men’s and women’s playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC core member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men’s ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013-14.

The 2013-14 Howard C. Smith Cup standings through the fall sports seasons are as follows: