Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference

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 some affiliate members also located in Connecticut and New Hampshire.

Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference

Association	NCAA
Founded	1971
Commissioner	Angela Baumann (since 2006)
Sports fielded	16 men's: 8 women's: 8
Division	Division III
No. of teams	8 full + 1 full (in 2025-26), 4 associate + 4 future associate (3 in 2024-25, 1 in 2025-26)
Country	United States
Headquarters	Westfield, Massachusetts
Region	Massachusetts and New England (with associates)
Official website	www.mascac.com
Locations

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 (MassArt) is also a MASCAC member)^[1] 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.^[2]

History

Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference

 

 

 

 

50km
30miles

 

Framingham State

 

Rivier

 

Dean

 

Anna Maria

 

Castleton

 

Springfield

 

UMass Dartmouth

 

WCSU

 

Plymouth State

 

Salem State

 

Mass Maritime

 

Bridgewater State

 

Worcester State

 

Westfield State

 

MCLA

 

Fitchburg State

  

Locations of MASCAC members:   full,   current associate   future full   future associate

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.
• 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.^[3]
• 2023 –
  • 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).^[4]
  • 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.^[5]
  • Dean College joined the MASCAC as an associate member for football beginning in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 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]
• 2024 – Plymouth State, UMass Dartmouth, VSU Castleton, and Western Connecticut State will all leave the MASCAC for football after the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).^[9]

Member schools

Current members

The MASCAC currently has eight full members, all are public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation^[a]	Enrollment	Endowment (millions)	Nickname	Joined	Colors
Bridgewater State University^[b]	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	1840	Public^[c]	10,651	$54.0	Bears	1971–72
Fitchburg State University	Fitchburg, Massachusetts	1894		4,659	$19.9	Falcons	1971–72
Framingham State University	Framingham, Massachusetts	1839		4,111	$35.4^[d]	Rams	1971–72
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts^[e]^[b]	North Adams, Massachusetts	1894		1,202	$14.7	Trailblazers	1971–72
Massachusetts Maritime Academy^[f]^[b]	Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts	1891		1,637	$13.1^[g]	Buccaneers	1974–75
Salem State University^[e]	Salem, Massachusetts	1854		7,242	$25.3	Vikings	1971–72
Westfield State University	Westfield, Massachusetts	1838		5,396	$20.0^[h]	Owls	1971–72
Worcester State University	Worcester, Massachusetts	1874		5,724	$34.5	Lancers	1971–72

Notes

1. Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
2. School does not sponsor ice hockey.
3. Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.^[10]
4. Actual amount in endowment is $35,385,907.
5. School does not sponsor football.
6. School does not sponsor men's or women's basketball.
7. Actual amount in endowment is $13,051,554.
8. Actual amount in endowment is $20,002,999.

Associate members

The MASCAC currently has eight associate members, all but three are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation^[a]	Enrollment	Endowment (millions)	Nickname	Joined	Colors	MASCAC sport	Primary conference
Plymouth State University	Plymouth, New Hampshire	1871	Public^[b]	4,491	$28.9	Panthers	2009–10^m.i.h., 2013–14^fb.		men's ice hockey; football	Little East (LEC)
Springfield College	Springfield, Massachusetts	1885	Nonsectarian	3,621	$79.6	Pride	2019–20		men's golf	New England (NEWMAC)
University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth	Dartmouth, Massachusetts	1895	Public^[c]	8,513	$59.0	Corsairs	2009–10^m.i.h., 2013–14^fb.		men's ice hockey; football	Little East (LEC)
Western Connecticut State University	Danbury, Connecticut	1903	Public^[d]	5,246	$12.8	Wolves	2013–14		football	Little East (LEC)

Notes

1. Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
2. Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
3. Part of the University of Massachusetts System.
4. Part of the Connecticut State University System.

Future full member

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation^[a]	Enrollment	Endowment (millions)	Nickname	Joining	Colors	Previous conference
Anna Maria College	Paxton, Massachusetts	1946	Catholic (S.S.A.)	1,500	$7.2	Amcats	2025–26		Great Northeast (GNAC)

Future associate members

The MASCAC will have three future associate members, one of which will be a public school:^[7][8] two of which will be privates

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation^[a]	Enrollment	Endowment (millions)	Nickname	Joining	Colors	MASCAC sport	Primary conference
Anna Maria College	Paxton, Massachusetts	1946	Catholic (S.S.A.)	1,500	$7.2	Amcats	2024–25		men's ice hockey; women's ice hockey	Great Northeast (GNAC) (MASCAC in 2025-26)
Dean College	Franklin, Massachusetts	1865	Nonsectarian	1,355	$42.1	Bulldogs	2025-26		football	Great Northeast (GNAC)
Plymouth State University	Plymouth, New Hampshire	1871	Public^[b]	4,491	$28.9	Panthers	2024-25		women's ice hockey	Little East (LEC)
Rivier University	Nashua, New Hampshire	1933	Catholic (S.P.M.)	2,520	$41	Raiders	2024–25		men's ice hockey; women's ice hockey	Great Northeast (GNAC)
Vermont State University at Castleton	Castleton, Vermont	1787	Public^[c]	2,399	$7.86	Spartans	2024–25		football	Little East (LEC)

Notes

1. Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
2. Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
3. Vermont State Colleges System.

Former members

The MASCAC had two former full members, both were public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation^[a]	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Colors	Current conference
Boston State College	Boston, Massachusetts	1872	Public	11,000^[11]	Warriors	1971	1982	N/A	N/A^[b]
Lowell State College	Lowell, Massachusetts	1894	Public	2,353^[12]	Indians^[13]^[14]	1971	1975	N/A	N/A^[c]

Notes

1. Any school that's a private school will be classified based on a religious affiliation; unless it had none, hence being nonsectarian.
2. Boston State was merged into the University of Massachusetts–Boston.
3. Lowell State was merged into the University of Massachusetts–Lowell.

Former associate members

The MASCAC had one former associate member, which was also a private school:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Endowment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Colors	MASCAC sport	Primary conference
Dean College	Franklin, Massachusetts	1865	Nonsectarian	1,355	$42.1	Bulldogs	2019–20	2019–20		men's golf	Great Northeast (GNAC)
Eastern Nazarene College	Quincy, Massachusetts	1900	Nazarene	772	$18.0	Lions	2019–20	2023-24		men's golf	North Atlantic Conference (NAC)
Elms College	Chicopee, Massachusetts	1928	Catholic (S.S.J.)	1,217	$12.0	Blazers	2019–20	2021-22	N/A	men's golf	Great Northeast (GNAC)
Mitchell College	New London, Connecticut	1938	Nonsectarian	572	$6.1	Mariners	2019–20	2023-24		men's golf	Great Northeast (GNAC)
New England College	Henniker, New Hampshire	1946	Nonsectarian	4,327	$24.9	Pligrims	2021–22	2023-24	N/A	men's golf	Great Northeast (GNAC)

Membership timeline

Sports

See also: MASCAC men's basketball tournament

See also: MASCAC Men's Hockey Tournament

The MASCAC sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's ice hockey, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.

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.^[15] 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.^[16][17][18] 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.^[16]

Men's sports

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Football	Golf	Ice Hockey	Lacrosse	Rowing^[a]	Sailing^[a]	Soccer	Swimming & Diving^[a]	Tennis^[a]	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Wrestling^[a]	Total MASCAC Sports^[b]
Bridgewater State	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	10
Fitchburg State	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	N	Y	Y	N	8
Framingham State	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	N	N	N	N	6
MCLA	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	Y	N	N	N	8
Mass Maritime	Y	N	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	8
Salem State	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	Y	N	N	N	7
Westfield State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	8
Worcester State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	N	Y	Y	N	9
Totals	8	7	7	6+3^[c]	4+5	6+2^[c]	3	1	1	8	1	3	3	5	1	64+10^[c]
Affiliate Members
Anna Maria						Y^[d]										1
Eastern Nazarene					Y											1
Elms					Y											1
Mitchell					Y											1
New England College					Y											1
Plymouth State				Y		Y										2
Rivier						Y^[d]										1
Springfield					Y											1
UMass–Dartmouth				Y		Y										2
Western Connecticut				Y												1
Vermont State at Castleton				Y^[e]												1^[e]

Notes

1. This sport is not sanctioned by the MASCAC.
2. Includes the non-sanctioned MASCAC sports.
3. With the addition of more in the 2024-25 season.
4. Will join in the 2024-25 school year.
5. Will join in the 2024-25 school year.

Women's sports

School	Basketball	Cheer^[a]	Cross Country	Field Hockey	Equestrian^[a]	Golf^[a]	Ice Hockey^[b]	Lacrosse	Rowing^[a]	Sailing^[a]	Soccer	Softball	Swimming & Diving^[a]	Tennis^[a]	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Volleyball	Total MASCAC Sports^[c]
Bridgewater State	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	12
Fitchburg State	Y	N	Y	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	N	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	9
Framingham State	Y	N	Y	Y	N	N	N^[d]	Y	N	N	Y	Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	8
MCLA	Y	N	Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	N	Y	N	N	Y	8
Mass Maritime	N	N	Y	N	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	8
Salem State	Y	N	N	Y	N	N	Y^[e]	Y	N	N	Y	Y	N	Y	N	N	Y	8
Westfield State	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	N	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	11
Worcester State	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	12
Totals	7	1	7	6	1	2	3	8	1	1	8	8	2	4	3	6	8	76
Affiliate Members
Anna Maria							Y^[f]											1
Rivier							Y^[f]											1

Notes

1. This sport is not sanctioned by the MASCAC.
2. MASCAC will start to sponsor women's ice hockey in 2024–25.
3. Includes the non-sanctioned MASCAC sports.
4. Will start their women's ice hockey program in the 2024-25 school year.
5. Will join MASCAC in the 2025-26 school year. They currently compete in New England Hockey Conference.
6. Will join in the 2024-25 school year.

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	0
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^[19]	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^[20]	50	28–23	Framingham State	Framingham State won 14
	Worcester State	Route 9 Cup^[21]	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^[20]	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^[19]	Sterling Cup trophy	37	27–10	Worcester State	Worcester State won 5
	Framingham State	Route 9 Cup^[21]	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.^[22]
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

References

1. "Massachusetts State Universities – The Nine State Universities of Massachusetts". Retrieved 2021-09-13.
2. "Anna Maria to Join MASCAC as Core Member in 2025-2026". 2023-10-05.
3. "MCLA Athletics Announces Multi-Year Plan, Including Hockey and Facility Upgrades". 2022-04-21.
4. "Anna Maria and Rivier to Join MASCAC Men's Ice Hockey in 2024-25". 2023-06-14.
5. "Anna Maria to Join MASCAC as Core Member in 2025-2026". 2023-10-05.
6. "Dean College to Join MASCAC in Football in 2025". 2023-10-10.
7. "Castleton University to Join MASCAC Football in 2024". 2023-01-05.
8. "Football to Join MASCAC in 2024". Castleton University. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
9. Haley, Tom (November 29, 2023). "What is next for Castleton football?". rutlandherald.com. Rutland Herald. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
10. Massachusetts State Universities – The Nine State Universities of Massachusetts
11. "(94)Boston State College". lost-colleges. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
12. Auburn, Norman (December 1972). "Study on Feasibility of Merging Lowell Technological Institute and Lowell State College" (PDF). State Library of Massachusetts. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
13. "The Lowell Sun 23 Apr 1972, page Page 86". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
14. "The Lowell Sun 05 Jan 1975, page Page 31". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
15. "MASCAC Set to Add Football as Championship Sport in 2013-14". mascac.com. 9 February 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
16. "MASCAC Welcomes Five New Men's Golf Affiliates to Conference". 2019-08-22.
17. Staff reports. "COLLEGES: Framingham State University, MASCAC will return to fall competition in 2021-22". Milford Daily News. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
18. Staff reports. "COLLEGES: Bridgewater State University, MASCAC will return to fall competition in 2021-22". Enterprise News. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
19. "The Sterling Cup".
20. "Football Retains Kelley Cup with 34-10 Victory over Mass. Maritime on Homecoming". 2022-10-29.
21. "FSU Mens Lax on Instagram: "Route 9 cup on the line tonight at 7 #HDRF"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
22. "MASCAC Statement on Fall 2020 Season". 2020-07-16.

External links

• Official website