WESTFIELD, Mass. – For a record-setting 20^th time, Westfield State University Athletics won the Howard C. Smith Cup and are now the conference's most winningest institution in league history, awarded annually to the member school that compiles the most points based on placement of each of its programs competing in league championship sports.

This season featured one of the tightest races in MASCAC history as the Owls trailed Bridgewater State at the conclusion of the winer sports season by mere thousandths of a point. After the spring season, the Owls soared ahead, finishing the 2025-26 season with 125 of 160 possible points (78.13 percent) compared to the Bears 115 of 148 available points (77.70 percent).

The victory was the Owls sixth consecutive Smith Sup win and tenth time receiving the Cup in the last 11 years, exemplifying sustained success throughout Westfield programs over the past decade. The Cup win marks the second longest winning streak since Salem State won seven straight Smith Cups from 1988-1994.

The fall season was bolstered by a trio of MASCAC tournament champions, two of which secured conference regular season titles and the maximum number of points. Field hockey and women's cross country both had tremendous seasons as field hockey set the program win record and advanced into the NCAA Tournament for 12 Smith Cup points while women's cross country grabbed a spot in the Mideast Regional rankings for the first time ever while nabbing eight points atop the cross country ranks.

Women's soccer went on the road to Worcester to win a conference tournament title, earning ten points after finishing second in the regular season. Women's soccer (10pts) was joined by women's volleyball (10pts), and men's cross country (7pts) who were all second in the Smith Cup standings for their respective sports. Men's soccer finished in a tie for second with Mass. Maritime to notch nine points.

In the winter season, men's basketball won the MASCAC regular season title to earn 12 points towards the institution's total. Men's ice hockey, which made a run to the MASCAC Championship game for the first time in program history, finished in a tie for second place to grab nine points.

The Owls surpassed the Bears during the spring season thanks in part to a conference regular season title from softball which won the MASCAC regular season and championship game while shattering numerous player and team records to improve to a blistering 38-1 heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Women's track and field won the conference's outdoor championships and gained six points after winning their third straight outdoor title. Women's lacrosse gathered ten points after placing second in the regular season.

Westfield compiled 35.5 points during the spring season across five championship sports while Bridgewater scored 35 points. The additional half a point ultimately was the difference in ascending the Owls to the top of the Smith Cup standings for a sixth straight year.

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.