Strong Fall Season Fuels Owls Smith Cup Trophy Defense

WESTFIELD, Mass. – After a strong 2024 Fall season, Westfield State Athletics leads the way in the 2024-25 Howard C. Smith Cup standings, awarded annually to the best overall athletics institution in the league.

The Owls, which have won the Smith Cup trophy in four consecutive years, hold the edge after the fall season, totaling 68 of 76 possible points for a percentage of 89.47. Bridgewater State University trails Westfield in second place, earning 64 of a possible 76 points (84.21 percent). Worcester State University enters the top three having secured 52.19 percent of possible points.

Westfield State posted an exceptional fall season as all seven programs that competed in the league's championship sports finished no lower than second place among MASCAC opponents. Leading the Owls charge were women's cross country and women's volleyball, which both secured the maximum number of points in their respective sports while football shared a tie for first with Bridgewater State.

Women's cross country ran away with the 2024 MASCAC Championship race, securing eight points towards the Owls total. Women's volleyball claimed 12 points by winning the conference regular season title after a perfect 7-0 mark in the conference regular season slate. Football received 11 points after tying the Bears for first as the highest placing MASCAC institution in the league.

Owls field hockey and men's soccer finished second in the regular season standings, both compiling ten points towards the Smith Cup total, while also capturing MASCAC Tournament titles in their sports. Field hockey defeated Bridgewater State in the conference championship game 2-1 while men's soccer advanced into the NCAA Tournament after a 2-0 victory over Salem State in the league title game.

Men's cross country and women's soccer also earned second-place points for Westfield as both teams finished as league tournament runners-up as well.

The focus now shifts to the winter season as MASCAC-championship competing sports in men's ice hockey, women's basketball, and men's basketball look to push the Owls towards a fifth straight Smith Cup. Men's and women's basketball were each picked to finish second in the MASCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll while ice hockey is ranked second among MASCAC programs in the preseason poll as well.