Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Commissioner | Angela Baumann (since 2006) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 9 full, 7 associate |
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | Westfield, Massachusetts |
| Region | Massachusetts and New England (with associates) |
| Official website | www |
| Locations | |
 | |
The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. Full member institutions are all located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with affiliate members also located in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia. The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference was established in June 1971, making it the oldest NCAA Division III men's and women's playing college athletic conference in the United States.[1][2]
All full members are a part of the Massachusetts State Universities system (every member in the Massachusetts State Universities system except the Massachusetts College of Art and Design is also a MASCAC member)[3] and the public associate members are part of the University of Massachusetts System [UMASS System (UMASS Dartmouth)], the University System of New Hampshire (Plymouth State University), and the Connecticut State University System (Western Connecticut State University) respectively. The rest of the associate members are private colleges.
On October 5, 2023, it was announced that in the 2025–26 school year, Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts will become the first private full member in the 53 year history of the MASCAC and the first new full member since 1974.[4]
History
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
50km
31miles
31miles
Framingham State
Rivier
Dean
Anna Maria
Springfield
UMass Dartmouth
Plymouth State
Salem State
Mass Maritime
Bridgewater State
Worcester State
Westfield State
MCLA
Fitchburg State
Locations of MASCAC members: full, current associate (note: map does not show men's golf affiliates Marymount (in Arlington, Virginia) and Marywood (in Scranton, Pennsylvania))
full, current associate (note: map does not show men's golf affiliates Marymount (in Arlington, Virginia) and Marywood (in Scranton, Pennsylvania))Chronological timeline
- 1971 – In June 1971, the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) was founded. Charter members included Boston State College, Bridgewater State College (now Bridgewater State University), Fitchburg State College (now Fitchburg State University), Framingham State College (now Framingham State University), Lowell State College, North Adams State College (now the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts [MCLA]), Salem State College (now Salem State University), Westfield State College (now Westfield State University) and Worcester State College (now Worcester State University), beginning the 1971–72 academic year.
- 1974 – The Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Mass Maritime) joined the MASCAC in the 1974–75 academic year.
- 1975 – Lowell State College left the MASCAC when it was merged into Lowell Technological Institute to become the University of Lowell (now the University of Massachusetts–Lowell [UMass Lowell]) after the 1974–75 academic year.
- 1982 – Boston State College left the MASCAC when it was merged into the University of Massachusetts–Boston (UMass Boston) after the 1981–82 academic year.
- 2009 – The University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth (UMass Dartmouth) and Plymouth State University joined the MASCAC as associate members for men's ice hockey in the 2009–10 academic year. This marked the first time the MASCAC added associate members and it marked the first time that the MASCAC added members (full or associate) outside of Massachusetts.
- 2013 – The MASCAC began sponsoring football in the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year) after the New England Football Conference (NEFC) dissolved; with Western Connecticut State University (alongside UMass Dartmouth and Plymouth State) joining as MASCAC as associate members for the sport.
- 2019 – Dean College, Eastern Nazarene College, Elms College, Mitchell College and Springfield College joined the MASCAC as associate members for men's golf in the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year). This marks the first time that the MASCAC added private institutions under the MASCAC banner for any sport.
- 2020 – Dean left the MASCAC as an associate member for men's golf after the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
- 2021 – New England College joined the MASCAC as an associate member for men's golf in the 2022 spring season (2021–22 academic year).
- 2022 – MCLA announced they would reinstate men's ice hockey for the first time since 2002–03 and add women's ice hockey for the 2023–24 academic year.[5]
- 2024 –
- Anna Maria College and Rivier University joined the MASCAC as associate members for men's ice hockey and provisional women's ice hockey members beginning in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).[6]
- Vermont State University at Castleton joined the MASCAC as an associate member for football beginning in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).[7][8]
- Marymount University and Marywood University joined the MASCAC as associate members for men's golf beginning in the 2024 fall season (2024-25 academic year) as the first members (full or associate) in conference history outside of New England.[9]
- 2025 –
- Anna Maria College joined the MASCAC as a full member beginning in the 2025 fall season (2025-26 academic) as the first full private school member in conference history and the first new full member since Massachusetts Maritime in 1974.[10]
- Dean College joined the MASCAC as an associate member for football beginning in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year).[11]
- VSU Castleton and Western Connecticut State both left the MASCAC for football after the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).[12]
Member schools
Current full members
The MASCAC currently has nine full members, all but one are public schools:
| Institution | Location[a] | Founded | Affiliation[b] | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) |
Nickname | Joined[c] | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria College | Paxton | 1946 | Catholic (S.S.A.) |
1,485 | $7.2 | Amcats | 2025 | |
| Bridgewater State University[d] | Bridgewater | 1840 | Public[e] | 9,550 | $54.0 | Bears | 1971 | |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | 1894 | 6,296 | $19.9 | Falcons | 1971 | ||
| Framingham State University | Framingham | 1839 | 4,111 | $35.4[f] | Rams | 1971 | ||
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts[g] (MCLA) |
North Adams | 1894 | 933 | $14.7 | Trailblazers | 1971 | ||
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy[h][d] | Buzzards Bay | 1891 | 1,362 | $13.1[i] | Buccaneers | 1974 | ||
| Salem State University[g] | Salem | 1854 | 6,239 | $25.3 | Vikings | 1971 | ||
| Westfield State University | Westfield | 1838 | 4,602 | $20.0[j] | Owls | 1971 | ||
| Worcester State University | Worcester | 1874 | 5,611 | $34.5 | Lancers | 1971 |
- Notes
- ^ All cities are located in the State of Massachusetts.
- ^ Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ a b School does not sponsor ice hockey.
- ^ Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.[13]
- ^ Actual amount in endowment is $35,385,907.
- ^ a b School does not sponsor football.
- ^ School does not sponsor men's or women's basketball.
- ^ Actual amount in endowment is $13,051,554.
- ^ Actual amount in endowment is $20,002,999.
Current associate members
The MASCAC currently has seven associate members, all but two are public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation[a] | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | MASCAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean College | Franklin, Massachusetts | 1865 | Nonsectarian | 1,151 | Bulldogs | 2025 | football | Great Northeast (GNAC) |
| Marymount University | Arlington, Virginia | 1950 | Catholic (RSHM) |
3,667 | Saints | 2024 | men's golf | Atlantic East (AEC) |
| Marywood University | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 1915 | Catholic (I.H.M.) |
2,606 | Pacers | 2024 | men's golf | Atlantic East (AEC) |
| Plymouth State University | Plymouth, New Hampshire | 1871 | Public[b] | 3,839 | Panthers | 2013 | football | Little East (LEC) |
| Rivier University | Nashua, New Hampshire | 1933 | Catholic (S.P.M.) |
2,822 | Raiders | 2024 | men's ice hockey | Great Northeast (GNAC) |
| 2024 | women's ice hockey | |||||||
| Springfield College | Springfield, Massachusetts | 1885 | Nonsectarian | 2,785 | Pride | 2019 | men's golf | New England (NEWMAC) |
| University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth | Dartmouth, Massachusetts | 1895 | Public[c] | 7,759 | Corsairs | 2013 | football | Little East (LEC) |
Notes:
- ^ Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
- ^ Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
- ^ Part of the University of Massachusetts System.
Former full members
The MASCAC had two former full members, both were public schools:
| Institution | Location[a] | Founded | Affiliation[b] | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[c] | Left[d] | Colors | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston State College | Boston | 1872 | Public | 11,000[14] | Warriors | 1971 | 1982 | N/A | N/A[e] |
| Lowell State College | Lowell | 1894 | Public | 2,353[15] | Indians[16][17] | 1971 | 1975 | N/A | N/A[f] |
- Notes
- ^ All cities were located in the State of Massachusetts.
- ^ Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ^ Boston State was merged into the University of Massachusetts–Boston.
- ^ Lowell State was merged into the University of Massachusetts–Lowell.
Former associate members
The MASCAC had nine former associate members, five were public schools and four were private schools:
- Notes
- ^ Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ^ Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
- ^ Part of the University of Massachusetts System.
- ^ Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.
- ^ Part of the Connecticut State University System.
Membership timeline
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)
Sports
The MASCAC sponsored football for the first time in 2013. Conference members Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Massachusetts Maritime, Westfield State, and Worcester State departed the New England Football Conference (NEFC) (now Commonwealth Coast Football) after the 2012 season. They were joined later by fellow NEFC opponents Plymouth State, UMass–Dartmouth, and Western Connecticut State.[18] The NEFC retained the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
On August 22, 2019, the MASCAC invited 5 of the recently dropped men's golf members from the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) which includes Dean College, Eastern Nazarene College, Elms College, Mitchell College, and Springfield College; all of them are private colleges which is the first time that the MASCAC awarded membership to private colleges.[19][20][21] The 5 private colleges joined the other men's golf sponsoring MASCAC schools from the NECC which includes MCLA, Salem State, Westfield State, and Worcester State to create a 9-team men's golf league. However Dean College men's golf left the MASCAC after the 2019-20 men's golf season to join their primary conference the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in men's golf. The MASCAC started Automatic Qualification (AQ) to the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships in the 2021–2022 season for the MASCAC men's golf tournament winner.[19]
Conference Sports
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 
|
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| Basketball |
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| Cross Country |
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| Field Hockey |
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| Football |
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| Golf |
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| Ice Hockey |
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| Lacrosse |
| |
| Soccer |
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| Softball |
| |
| Track & Field |
|
|
| Volleyball |
|
Men's Sports
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country |
Football | Golf | Ice Hockey |
Soccer | Track & Field |
Total MASCAC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Fitchburg State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| Framingham State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Mass Maritime |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| MCLA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| Salem State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| Westfield State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| Worcester State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| Totals | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7+3 | 4+3 | 7+1 | 9 | 5 | 55+7 |
| Affiliate Members | |||||||||
| Dean |
|
1 | |||||||
| Marymount |
|
1 | |||||||
| Marywood |
|
1 | |||||||
| Plymouth State |
|
1 | |||||||
| Rivier |
|
1 | |||||||
| Springfield |
|
1 | |||||||
| UMass Dartmouth |
|
1 | |||||||
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the MASCAC that are played by MASCAC schools
| School | Lacrosse | Rowing | Sailing | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria | NAC | |||||
| Bridgewater State | LEC | LEC | NEWA | |||
| Mass Maritime | LEC |
|
|
|||
| MCLA | NAC | |||||
| Salem State | LEC | LEC |
- Notes
Women's Sports
| School | Basketball | Cross Country |
Field Hockey |
Ice Hockey |
Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Track & Field |
Volleyball | Total MASCAC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| Fitchburg State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| Framingham State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Mass Maritime |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| MCLA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Salem State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| Westfield State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| Worcester State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Totals | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5+1 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 68+1 |
| Affiliate Members | ||||||||||
| Rivier |
|
1 | ||||||||
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the MASCAC that are played by MASCAC schools
| School | Equestrian | Golf | Rowing | Sailing | Swimming & Diving | Tennis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State | IHSA | LEC | LEC | |||
| Mass Maritime |
|
|
||||
| Salem State | LEC | |||||
| Westfield State | LEC | LEC[a] | ||||
| Worcester State | IND |
- Notes
- ^ Swimming only
Football
For the current season, see 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football season.
All-time school records (ranked according to winning percentage)
Through end of the 2022 regular season. Records reflect official NCAA results, including any forfeits or win vacating.
| # | MASCAC | Record | Win % | MASCAC Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth State | 298–198–7 | .599 | 1 |
| 2 | Bridgewater State | 335–238–7 | .584 | 1 |
| 3 | UMass Dartmouth | 181–155 | .539 | 1 |
| 4 | Worcester State | 185–181 | .505 | 0 |
| 5 | Framingham State | 220–251–2 | .467 | 7 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Maritime | 208–253–1 | .451 | 0 |
| 7 | Westfield State | 173–217–1 | .444 | 0 |
| 8 | Western Connecticut | 221–278–4 | .443 | 1 |
| 9 | Fitchburg State | 109–253 | .301 | 0 |
Intra-conference football rivalries
The members of the MASCAC have longstanding rivalries with each other, especially on the football field. The following is a list of active rivalries in the MASCAC with totals & records through the completion of the 2022 season.
| Teams | Rivalry name | Trophy | Meetings | Record | Series leader | Current streak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State | Massachusetts Maritime | Cranberry Bowl | The Scoop | 47 | 34–12–1 | Bridgewater State | Bridgewater State won 5 |
| Westfield State | None | None | 40 | 31–9 | Bridgewater State won 11 | ||
| Fitchburg State | Worcester State | Sterling Cup[22] | Sterling Cup trophy | 37 | 10–27 | Worcester State | Worcester State won 5 |
| Framingham State | Western Connecticut | None | None | 19 | 15–4 | Framingham State | Western Connecticut won 1 |
| Massachusetts Maritime | Kelley Bowl | Kelley Cup[23] | 50 | 28–23 | Framingham State | Framingham State won 14 | |
| Worcester State | Route 9 Cup[24] | None | 37 | 18–20 | Worcester State | Framingham State won 10 | |
| Massachusetts Maritime | Bridgewater State | Cranberry Bowl | The Scoop | 47 | 12–34–1 | Bridgewater State | Bridgewater State won 5 |
| Framingham State | Kelley Bowl | Kelley Cup[23] | 50 | 23–28 | Framingham State | Framingham State won 14 | |
| Plymouth State | UMass Dartmouth | None | None | 23 | 11–12 | UMass Dartmouth | UMass Dartmouth won 4 |
| UMass Dartmouth | Plymouth State | 23 | 12–11 | ||||
| Western Connecticut | Framingham State | 19 | 4–15 | Framingham State | Western Connecticut won 1 | ||
| Westfield State | Bridgewater State | 40 | 9–31 | Bridgewater State | Bridgewater State won 11 | ||
| Worcester State | Fitchburg State | Sterling Cup[22] | Sterling Cup trophy | 37 | 27–10 | Worcester State | Worcester State won 5 |
| Framingham State | Route 9 Cup[24] | None | 37 | 20–18 | Worcester State | Framingham State won 10 | |
Football champions
| Record | Ranking | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Champions | Conference | Overall | D3.com | Bowl result | Head coach |
| 2013 | Framingham State | 8–0 | 9–2 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 17–20 vs. Ithaca | Tom Kelley |
| 2014 | Framingham State | 8–0 | 10–1 | N/A | W ECAC North Atlantic Bowl | Tom Kelley |
| 2015 | Framingham State | 8–0 | 9–2 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 22–42 vs. Wesley | Tom Kelley |
| 2016 | Bridgewater State | 8–0 | 8–3 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 27–33 vs. Alfred | Joe Verria |
| 2017 | Framingham State | 7–1 | 10–1 | N/A | W New England Bowl | Tom Kelley |
| Plymouth State | 7–1 | 9–2 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 0–66 vs. Brockport | Paul Castonia | |
| 2018 | Framingham State | 7–1 | 8–3 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 27–40 vs. Brockport | Tom Kelley |
| 2019 | Framingham State | 8–0 | 8–3 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 21–58 vs. Wesley | Tom Kelley |
| 2020 | MASCAC season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25] | |||||
| 2021 | Framingham State | 8–0 | 8–3 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 0–45 vs. Muhlenberg | Tom Kelley |
| 2022 | UMass Dartmouth | 8–0 | 9–2 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 20–63 vs. Ithaca | Mark Robichaud |
| 2023 | Western Connecticut | 7-1 | 7-3 | N/A | L NCAA Division III First Round 20–62 vs. Johns Hopkins | Joe Loth |
References
- ^ "History". MASCAC.
- ^ "1,005 Student-Athletes Earn Spot on Winter/Spring 2024 MASCAC All-Academic". July 9, 2024.
- ^ "Massachusetts State Universities – The Nine State Universities of Massachusetts". Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ "Anna Maria to Join MASCAC as Core Member in 2025-2026" (Press release). MASCAC. October 5, 2023.
- ^ "MCLA Athletics Announces Multi-Year Plan, Including Hockey and Facility Upgrades". April 21, 2022.
- ^ "Anna Maria and Rivier to Join MASCAC Men's Ice Hockey in 2024-25" (Press release). MASCAC. June 14, 2023.
- ^ "Castleton University to Join MASCAC Football in 2024". January 5, 2023.
- ^ "Football to Join MASCAC in 2024". Castleton University. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "Marymount University and Marywood University to Join MASCAC As Men's Golf Affiliates in Fall 2024". August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Anna Maria to Join MASCAC as Core Member in 2025-2026" (Press release). MASCAC. October 5, 2023.
- ^ "Dean College to Join MASCAC in Football in 2025" (Press release). MASCAC. October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Plymouth State and UMass Dartmouth Accepeted as MASCAC Football Affiliates". Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. February 29, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ Massachusetts State Universities – The Nine State Universities of Massachusetts
- ^ "(94)Boston State College". lost-colleges. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ Auburn, Norman (December 1972). "Study on Feasibility of Merging Lowell Technological Institute and Lowell State College" (PDF). State Library of Massachusetts. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "The Lowell Sun 23 Apr 1972, page Page 86". Newspapers.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "The Lowell Sun 05 Jan 1975, page Page 31". Newspapers.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "MASCAC Set to Add Football as Championship Sport in 2013-14". mascac.com. February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ a b "MASCAC Welcomes Five New Men's Golf Affiliates to Conference". August 22, 2019.
- ^ "COLLEGES: Framingham State University, MASCAC will return to fall competition in 2021-22". Milford Daily News. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "COLLEGES: Bridgewater State University, MASCAC will return to fall competition in 2021-22". Enterprise News. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ a b "The Sterling Cup".
- ^ a b "Football Retains Kelley Cup with 34-10 Victory over Mass. Maritime on Homecoming". October 29, 2022.
- ^ a b "FSU Mens Lax on Instagram: "Route 9 cup on the line tonight at 7 #HDRF"". Instagram. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ "MASCAC Statement on Fall 2020 Season" (Press release). MASCAC. July 16, 2020.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Two-year colleges |
|  |
| State university system | ||
| University of Massachusetts | ||
| Merged | ||
| Closed | ||
