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Somerset, NJ -- Sacred Heart has earned itself a place in the Northeast Conference (NEC) recordbook by winning its fifth consecutive Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup, as announced today by NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris.  The Pioneers also captured their sixth straight Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup, extending their own league record.  Monmouth claimed the NEC Men’s Commissioner Cup for the 11th time in 15 seasons.

Sacred Heart matched UMBC’s record for consecutive Commissioner’s Cup wins, and needs just one more Cup victory to equal the all-time record of six shared by Fairleigh Dickinson (1987-90 and 1991-94) and Monmouth (1990-91, 1997-98 and 2003-07).

“Winning the NEC Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup, and the NEC Joan Martin Commissioner’s Cup is quickly becoming a surreal experience,” said Don Cook, Sacred Heart Director of Athletics.  “To win the Cup once was special.  To win it a second time was certainly not expected.  To win it five and six times consecutively shatters our sensibilities.  I don’t recall ever winning anything six straight times!”

The Pioneers racked up 230.03 points over the course of the 2011-12 academic year, holding off a late charge from Monmouth, which finished second with 223.70 points.  With 140.27 points, Sacred Heart also fell just shy of eclipsing the all-time women’s mark (140.85) it set during the 2008-09 campaign.  Monmouth’s 121.18 points earned the Blue & White runner-up honors on the women’s side. 

Sacred Heart captured NEC Tournament Championships in women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, women’s bowling and baseball this past year.  The Pioneers also finished in the top four in the regular season standings or at NEC championships in 16 different sports. 

“The Commissioner’s Cup is a wonderful validation of the hard work and dedication of the Sacred Heart coaching staff and student-athletes,” noted Cook.  “Most important, the awards acknowledge persistence and consistency, symbolic representations of dedication and hard work.  Every time our student-athletes took the field or court, they were reminded of how lucky they are to be representing Sacred Heart and the Northeast Conference.  We are grateful that the University and the NEC gave our intercollegiate athletics program the opportunity to become bigger than we would have been had they not been there in full measure supporting us.”

Monmouth reclaimed the Men’s Commissioner’s Cup from Sacred Heart and finished first in the standings by a wide margin.  The Hawks accumulated 102.52 points with the Pioneers finishing second with 89.76 points.  Of the nine men’s sports Monmouth sponsors, the Hawks finished in the top three of the NEC standings or at an NEC Championship in six of them.  Starting with the 2001-02 season, Monmouth has earned the Men’s Cup on all but two occasions. 

“Our male student-athletes continue to shine as athletes, students and role models on our campus,” said Marilyn McNeil, Monmouth Vice President and Director of Athletics.  “It is only fitting that their athletics skills are recognized at the conference level.  They, as a group, have embraced the philosophy of excellence on and off the field, and we applaud them for achieving the unprecedented and successful results!”

Following Sacred Heart (230.03 points) and Monmouth (223.70) in the Cup standings was Saint Francis (PA) with 177.84 points.  The Red Flash finished just ahead of LIU Brooklyn (176.57), which jumped two spots from a year ago to fourth place.  Robert Morris took the fifth spot (170.15), followed by Central Connecticut in sixth place (169.76).  Quinnipiac (154.40) edged out Mount St. Mary’s (153.04) for seventh with Fairleigh Dickinson (137.15) in ninth and Bryant (125.10) in tenth.  Wagner (118.98) and St. Francis (NY) (83.16) rounded out the pack.

“It was a race to the wire to see who would take home the Commissioner’s Cup, and I congratulate both Sacred Heart and Monmouth for their outstanding accomplishments this year,” said Morris.  “Sacred Heart’s claim to its fifth consecutive Commissioner’s Cup and sixth consecutive Women’s Cup is incredibly impressive, especially given the increased parity and competitiveness within the NEC across all sports.  Monmouth was neck-and-neck with Sacred Heart right to the end of the spring season, and showed its continued prominence on the men’s side by collecting its 11th Men’s Cup in the past 15 years.”

“The most satisfying aspect of the awards is to whom they are dedicated, two giants in our profession,” said Cook.  “When I think of the Cup(s), it reaffirms for me how special the awards are because of the Brenda Weare and Joan Martin association.  As I think about their work on behalf of the NEC, the first word that comes to mind is “quality”. Quality describes the person.  Quality describes in a word the high standards by which they did everything on behalf of the NEC, its staff and student-athletes.”

Weare, who passed away in June, 2009, made a lasting impact in her three years as Commissioner of the NEC.  In that time, she introduced a number of new programs aimed at upgrading the caliber of the league’s championship sports and enhancing the opportunities and experiences for the more than 4,000 student-athletes that compete in the conference. In addition to securing Bryant as the NEC’s 12th full-time member, Weare was instrumental in the NEC gaining automatic access to the NCAA Division I Football Championship beginning in 2010, spearheading the conference’s Strategic Plan and implementing a new leaguewide sportsmanship policy.  The Commissioner’s Cup was renamed in her honor in May, 2009.

Joan Martin played an integral part in Monmouth athletics for 33 years, serving as an Associate Athletics Director, Assistant Athletics Director, Senior Woman Administrator and Compliance Director, as well as a coach during her time in West Long Branch.  Martin joined the Monmouth staff in as a coach in 1969 and continued until 1982, when she joined the athletic administration.  Martin was the women’s basketball coach for 13 years, and mentored the softball (11 years) and field hockey (eight years) programs as well.  Along with the NEC Women’s Commissioner Cup bearing her name, she was inducted into the Monmouth University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

About the Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup
The NEC Commissioner’s Cup was instituted during the 1986-87 season with Long Island winning the inaugural award.  Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth lead all NEC schools with six Cups to their credit.  Cup points are awarded in each NEC sponsored sport.  For men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, football, women’s bowling, softball, field hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and baseball, the final regular season standings are used to determine Cup points.  In all other sports, points are awarded based on the finish at NEC Championship events.

About the Northeast Conference
Now in its 31st year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 12 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states.  Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#23), Baltimore (#27), and Hartford/New Haven (#30).  Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 23 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic or play-in access to 14 different NCAA Championships.  NEC member institutions include Central Connecticut State, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary’s, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (NY), Saint Francis (PA) and Wagner.  Bryant will become the NEC’s 12th member upon completion of the NCAA Division I reclassification process in 2012. For more information on the NEC, visit www.northeastconference.org.

2011-12 Brenda Weare Commisioner's Cup Final Standings

Sport	BRY	CCSU	FDU	LIU	MON	MSM	QUIN	RMU	SHU	SFNY	SFPA	WAG
Field Hockey	5.36	----	----	----	12.43	----	10.86	5.36	8.50	----	8.50	----
M. Cross Country	5.00	14.00	3.00	4.00	11.50	11.50	9.00	10.00	7.00	6.00	13.00	8.00
W. Cross Country	8.00	11.00	4.00	3.00	12.00	7.00	14.00	9.00	13.00	5.00	10.00	6.00
Women's Soccer	8.50	4.65	3.00	12.90	11.80	6.85	6.85	9.60	10.70	----	14.00	4.65
Men's Soccer	4.10	12.90	10.70	5.20	12.90	7.40	6.30	3.00	12.90	8.50	9.60	----
Women's Volleyball	8.50	11.25	7.13	13.32	----	----	4.22	9.88	13.32	3.00	5.75	----
Football	11.25	6.44	----	----	9.19	----	----	4.38	6.44	----	3.00	9.19
Women's Swimming	8.50	12.17	----	----	----	6.67	----	----	4.83	3.00	14.00	10.33
M. Indoor Track	3.55	11.25	3.55	11.25	14.00	9.60	----	6.30	12.90	7.40	8.50	5.20
W. Indoor Track	4.00	9.00	6.00	13.00	14.00	5.00	8.00	7.00	12.00	3.00	11.00	10.00
Women's Bowling	----	----	14.00	6.67	5.44	----	----	----	12.78	7.89	4.22	----
Men's Basketball	3.00	9.00	4.00	14.00	9.00	6.00	9.00	12.00	7.00	11.00	5.00	13.00
Women's Basketball	5.50	5.50	7.00	8.50	12.00	8.50	13.00	10.50	14.00	4.00	10.50	3.00
Women's Golf	----	7.40	12.90	14.00	11.80	4.10	5.20	9.60	10.70	3.00	8.50	6.30
Men's Tennis	----	----	14.00	----	12.63	10.57	10.57	5.07	7.82	5.07	7.82	3.00
Women's Tennis	----	----	14.00	10.95	6.06	8.50	12.78	6.06	10.95	3.00	8.50	4.22
Men's Golf	----	12.17	12.17	12.17	6.67	14.00	----	9.11	10.33	3.00	5.44	4.22
Women's Lacrosse	7.89	7.89	----	3.61	10.95	10.95	13.39	7.89	13.39	----	3.61	5.44
M.Outdoor Track	4.10	11.80	3.00	12.90	14.00	9.60	----	7.40	10.70	6.30	8.50	5.20
W.Outdoor Track	3.00	8.00	5.00	13.00	14.00	9.00	6.00	10.00	12.00	4.00	11.00	7.00
Men's Lacrosse	11.80	----	----	----	----	8.50	8.50	14.00	4.10	----	----	4.10
Softball	9.05	9.05	5.20	12.35	10.70	6.30	12.35	14.00	4.10	----	7.40	3.00
Baseball	14.00	10.57	8.50	5.75	12.63	3.00	4.38	----	10.57	----	----	7.13
Total	125.10	169.76	137.15	176.57	223.70	153.04	154.40	170.15	230.03	83.16	177.84	118.98
Men	56.80	83.85	58.92	65.27	102.52	80.17	59.75	71.26	89.76	47.27	60.86	59.04
Women	68.30	85.91	78.23	111.30	121.18	72.87	94.65	98.89	140.27	35.89	116.98	59.94
	BRY	CCSU	FDU	LIU	MON	MSM	QUIN	RMU	SHU	SFNY	SFPA	WAG

2011-12 Brenda Weare Commisioner's Cup
Overall Standings

1.  Sacred Heart              230.03
2.  Monmouth                  223.70
3.  Saint Francis (PA)        177.84
4.  LIU Brooklyn              176.57
5.  Robert Morris             170.15
6.  Central Connecticut       169.76
7.  Quinnipiac                154.40
8.  Mount St. Mary’s          153.04
9.  Fairleigh Dickinson       137.15
10. Bryant                    125.10
11. Wagner                    118.98
12. St. Francis (NY)          83.16

2011-12 Joan Martin Commisioner's Cup
Women's Standings

1.  Sacred Heart              140.27
2.  Monmouth                  121.18
3.  Saint Francis (PA)        116.98
4.  LIU Brooklyn              111.30
5.  Robert Morris             98.89
6.  Quinnipiac                94.65
7.  Central Connecticut       85.91
8.  Fairleigh Dickinson       78.23
9.  Mount St. Mary’s          72.87
10. Bryant                    68.30
11. Wagner                    59.94
12. St. Francis (NY)          35.89

2011-12 NEC Commisioner's Cup
Men's Standings

1.  Monmouth                  102.52
2.  Sacred Heart              89.76
3.  Central Connecticut       83.85
4.  Mount St. Mary’s          80.17
5.  Robert Morris             71.26
6.  LIU Brooklyn              65.27
7.  Saint Francis (PA)        60.86
8.  Quinnipiac                59.75
9.  Wagner                    59.04
10. Fairleigh Dickinson       58.92
11. Bryant                    56.80
12. St. Francis (NY)          47.27

Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup Champions

2011-12  Sacred Heart
2010-11  Sacred Heart
2009-10  Sacred Heart
2008-09  Sacred Heart
2007-08  Sacred Heart
2006-07  Monmouth
2005-06  Monmouth
2004-05  Monmouth
2003-04  Monmouth
2002-03  UMBC
2001-02  UMBC
2000-01  UMBC
1999-00  UMBC
1998-99  UMBC
1997-98  Monmouth
1996-97  Mount St. Mary's
1995-96  Mount St. Mary's
1994-95  Mount St. Mary's
1993-94  Fairleigh Dickinson
1992-93  Fairleigh Dickinson
1991-92  Fairleigh Dickinson
1990-91  Monmouth
1989-90  Fairleigh Dickinson
1988-89  Fairleigh Dickinson
1987-88  Fairleigh Dickinson
1986-87  Long Island