WESTFIELD, Mass. -- For the fourth straight year, Westfield State University has earned the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference's Howard C. Smith Cup, 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.

Westfield wins its 18th Smith Cup overall, and it's eighth in the last nine years.

The Owls finished the year with 130 points out of 160 possible (81.25 percent). The Owls were atop the standings in men's and women's cross country, softball, women's outdoor track and field and volleyball. They also were second in field hockey, women's soccer, men's ice hockey, men's outdoor track and field and women's lacrosse while finishing tied for second in men's soccer and men's basketball.

Coming in second is Bridgewater State with 105 points out of 148 possible (70.95 percent). The Bears were regular season champions in men's and women's soccer, football, men's outdoor track and field while tying for first in baseball. They came in second in men's and women's cross country and women's basketball plus tied for second in men's basketball.

Rounding out the top three is Framingham State with 96.50 points (62.66 percent) out of 154 available. The Rams were first in women's basketball and women's lacrosse, tied for first in baseball, second in football, tied for second in softball and third in field hockey and men's ice hockey.

Sitting in the fourth spot with 91 points out of 160 possible (56.88 percent) is Worcester State. The Lancers came in first in field hockey and men's basketball, tied for second in softball and volleyball and third in women's lacrosse, women's soccer and women's outdoor track and field.

Landing in fifth is Salem State. The Vikings had 52 points out of 120 available (43.33 percent) after finishing tied for first in baseball, tied for second in men's soccer, and fourth in field hockey, women's soccer, women's basketball and softball.

Fitchburg State is in the sixth spot with 60 points out of 160 available (37.50 percent). The Falcons were first in men's ice hockey, third in men's cross country and men's outdoor track and field, fourth in women's cross country and women's outdoor track and field .

Closing out the 2023-24 standings are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Buccaneers collected 29.50 points (27.83 percent) out of 106 possible points and finished fourth in football,, fifth in baseball, men's and women's cross country, women's lacrosse and men's outdoor track and field. The Trailblazers netted 29 points (25.89 percent) out of 112 possible points after tying for second in volleyball, fourth in men's basketball, sixth in men's ice hockey and tied for sixth in men's soccer.

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 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 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 a football affiliate member in 2013. Dean College, Eastern Nazarene College, Elms College, Mitchell College and Springfield College joined as men's golf affiliates in 2019 and New England College in 2021.