WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Worcester State has the early lead after the fall season in 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 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.
The Lancers took home the top spot with 53 points (69.74 percent) out of a possible 76. They finished first in men’s cross country and volleyball, tied for second in women’s soccer, third in women’s cross country and football then tied for third in field hockey. They rounded out the fall tied for fifth in men’s soccer.
Close behind in second is Westfield State with 51.50 points (67.76 percent) out of 76 possible. The Owls were first in women’s cross country and women’s soccer plus tied for first in field hockey. In volleyball, they finished second while coming in fourth in men’s cross country and fifth in football.
Not far behind Worcester and Westfield is Bridgewater State in third. The Bears collected 50.50 points (66.45 percent) out of 76 available. During the fall, Bridgewater State was second in women’s cross country and football while tying for second in women’s soccer. They also were third in men’s cross country and men’s soccer with a tie for the third spot in field hockey.
Sitting in fourth with 30.50 points (63.54 percent) out of 48 possible is Salem State. The Vikings were MASCAC champs in men’s soccer and tied for first in field hockey. They tied for fourth in women’s soccer and were sixth in volleyball at the end of the fall season.
Framingham State comes in fifth with 46.50 points (61.18 percent) out of 76 available. The Rams went undefeated against MASCAC teams to finish first while they also were second in men’s soccer, third in volleyball and tied for fourth in women’s cross country and women’s soccer.
Landing in sixth is Fitchburg State with 24.50 points (32.23 percent) out of 76 possible. The Falcons in the fall came in second in men’s cross country, tied for fourth in women’s cross country, tied for sixth in football and sixth in women’s soccer.
Rounding out the fall Howard C. Smith Cup standings are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Buccaneers had 19 points (29.69 percent) out of 64 possible. They finished fourth in football and men’s soccer and sixth in both men’s and women’s cross country. For the Trailblazers, they collected 13.50 points (25.96 percent) out of 52 available. They ended the fall fourth in volleyball, tied for fifth in men’s soccer and seventh in men’s and women’s cross country.