Somerset, NJ -- Sacred Heart’s legacy of broad-based athletic success in the Northeast Conference continued during the 2016-17 academic year with the Pioneers breaking the league record by winning their seventh Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup. SHU won the Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner Cup for the third straight year, while Bryant claimed its fourth consecutive NEC Men’s Commissioner’s Cup.

Sacred Heart’s seventh Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup moved the Pioneers past Monmouth in the all-time standings. SHU accumulated 219.56 points over the course of the year, the highest total since the Pioneers racked up 230.03 points back in 2011-12. The Pioneers won NEC titles in women’s golf, women’s indoor track and field and women’s outdoor track and field. SHU has now been double-winners in track and field in each of the last three years. The Pioneers also claimed NEC regular season championships in women’s bowling and women’s volleyball, and earned top-three finishes in the NEC regular season standings in seven different round-robin sports (women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, softball and women’s volleyball). Looking back, SHU has posted top-three finishes in the Cup standings in each of the last 12 years.

Saint Francis U finished second in the overall Cup standings with a school record 199.58 points, followed by Bryant with 191.77 points. This marks the sixth straight top-three finish for the Red Flash, while the Bulldogs have landed in the top-two in each of the last four years, including Cup titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Central Connecticut moved up two spots from a year ago to finish fourth with 177.33 points. The Blue Devils were followed by LIU Brooklyn (162.22) and Wagner (148.78) in fifth and sixth place, respectively. It was the best Cup finish for the Seahawks since the 2001-02 season. Fairleigh Dickinson took the seventh spot (141.58) with Robert Morris (120.79), Mount St. Mary’s (115.35) and St. Francis Brooklyn (84.20) rounding out the list.

Sacred Heart’s ten Joan Martin Commissioner’s Cups extended its own conference record. The Pioneers won seven straight Cups on the women’s side from 2006-12 prior to its current three-peat. SHU’s 138.50 points represented the highest total in the NEC since the Pioneers finished with 140.27 back in 2011-12. The Pioneers won comfortably over Saint Francis U (115.25) and CCSU (104.32).

“The Commissioner’s Cup is a testament to the overall excellence of a Department of Athletics,” said SHU Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Valentine. “Winning this honor, in back-to-back years, and the women’s cup for a third straight season, is validation of the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches and administrators. This award is shared by the entire Sacred Heart community and staff, for it is with their continued support that make the athletic achievements possible.”

Bryant became the second school in NEC history to win four straight Men’s Commissioner’s Cups. The Bulldogs, who tallied 94.66 points on the year, won NEC Tournament titles in men’s golf, lacrosse and tennis. The Bulldogs also won the baseball regular season championship. Saint Francis U finished second in the men’s standings with 84.33 points, just ahead of Sacred Heart (81.06) and Wagner (80.01).

“What an accomplishment for all our student-athletes!” Bryant Director of Athletics Bill Smith said. “To win four straight Men’s Cups is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our athletes, coaches and staff. Every day, we strive to be leaders in the NEC in competition, and in all facets of student-athlete life. Congratulations to our programs on their hard work and continued success, and on another incredible recognition of their efforts.”

“It is my honor to recognize Sacred Heart University with a record-breaking seventh Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup and tenth Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup,” said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner. “To sustain athletic success over time is never easy, and Sacred Heart student-athletes, coaches and administrators have done a wonderful job in building a strong foundation for future growth. I also salute Bryant University on claiming a fourth straight Men’s Commissioner’s Cup, an outstanding accomplishment and a reflection on the dedication and commitment made by the entire the Bulldog community.”

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 an NEC 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 LIU Brooklyn winning the inaugural award.  Sacred Heart leads all current NEC schools with seven Cups to its 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, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and baseball, the final regular season standings are used to determine Cup points. Starting with the 2012-13 season, the Conference began awarding three bonus points to the NEC Tournament champion in those sports. In all other sports, points are awarded based on the finish at NEC Championship events.

About the Northeast Conference
Now in its 36th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 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 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 14 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, all @NECsports.
  

2016-17 Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup • Final Sport-By-Sport Standings

Sport	BRY	CCSU	FDU	LIU	MSM	RMU	SHU	SFBK	SFU	WC
M. Cross Country	6.14	14.00	3.00	-----	9.29	-----	12.43	4.57	10.86	7.71
W. Cross Country	10.33	12.78	6.67	3.00	7.89	9.11	11.56	5.44	14.00	4.22
Women's Soccer	8.50	13.32	9.88	3.69	3.69	7.13	11.25	-----	16.32	5.75
Men's Soccer	8.50	3.79	6.14	10.86	-----	3.79	8.50	17.00	12.43	-----
Women's Volleyball	11.65	9.29	3.79	14.65	-----	7.71	14.00	6.14	3.79	-----
Football	9.42	4.83	-----	-----	-----	4.83	4.83	-----	13.09	9.42
Women's Swimming	12.43	14.00	-----	7.71	4.57	-----	6.14	3.00	9.29	10.86
M. Indoor Track	3.00	8.50	5.75	14.00	7.13	-----	12.63	4.38	9.88	11.25
W. Indoor Track	5.44	10.33	11.56	12.78	7.89	9.11	14.00	3.00	6.67	4.22
Men's Basketball	7.89	4.22	7.89	12.78	17.00	7.89	5.44	3.00	10.95	10.95
Women's Basketball	10.33	7.89	6.06	4.22	9.11	17.00	12.17	6.06	12.17	3.00
Women's Bowling	-----	-----	15.17	6.67	-----	-----	14.00	9.42	9.42	-----
Women's Golf	-----	8.50	12.17	10.33	-----	-----	14.00	3.00	4.83	6.67
Men's Tennis	14.00	-----	9.42	-----	4.83	-----	4.83	4.83	12.17	9.42
Women's Tennis	10.08	-----	12.43	14.00	5.36	-----	5.36	5.36	10.08	5.36
Men's Golf	14.00	8.50	12.63	7.13	-----	11.25	5.07	3.00	5.07	9.88
Women's Lacrosse	17.00	6.93	-----	3.79	6.93	12.43	10.08	-----	3.79	10.08
Men's Lacrosse	13.33	-----	-----	-----	3.92	10.33	10.33	-----	-----	3.92
M.Outdoor Track	4.38	14.00	5.75	12.63	11.25	-----	8.50	3.00	9.88	7.13
W.Outdoor Track	4.22	12.78	5.44	11.56	9.11	10.33	14.00	3.00	7.89	6.67
Softball	7.13	8.50	3.00	5.75	4.38	9.88	11.94	-----	17.00	11.94
Baseball	14.00	15.17	4.83	6.67	3.00	------	8.50	------	------	10.33
Total	191.77	177.33	141.58	162.22	115.35	120.79	219.56	84.20	199.58	148.78
Men	94.66	73.01	55.41	64.07	56.42	38.09	81.06	39.78	84.33	80.01
Women	97.11	104.32	86.17	98.15	58.93	82.70	138.50	44.42	115.25	68.77
	BRY	CCSU	FDU	LIU	MSM	RMU	SHU	SFBK	SFU	WC