Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
Athletic conference in Massachusetts, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
- 16
- men's: 8
- women's: 8
| |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Commissioner | Angela Baumann (since 2006) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 8 full, 7 associate |
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | Westfield, Massachusetts |
| Region | Massachusetts and New England (with associates) |
| Website | www |
| 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 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] However, the college would later announce its permanent closure on April 23, 2026, with the 2025–26 school year being Anna Maria’s only season in the MASCAC.
History
31miles
full, 
future, 
current associate, 
future associate (note: map does not show men's golf affiliates Marymount (in Arlington, Virginia) and Marywood (in Scranton, Pennsylvania))Recent events
On April 21, 2022, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announced they would reinstate men's ice hockey for the first time since 2002–03 and add women's ice hockey, beginning the 2023–24 academic year.[5]
On January 5, 2023, Vermont State University at Castleton (Vermont State–Castleton) announced that it would join the MASCAC as an associate member for football, beginning in the 2024 fall season of the 2024–25 academic year.[6][7]
On June 14, 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 of 2024–25 academic year.[8]
On October 5, 2023, Anna Maria later announced that it would join the MASCAC as a full member, beginning in the 2025–26 academic year; thus becoming the first full private school member in conference history and the first new full member since Massachusetts Maritime in 1974.[9]
On October 10, 2023, Dean College announced that it would join the MASCAC as an associate member for football, beginning in the 2025 fall season of the 2025–26 academic year.[10]
On February 29, 2024, Plymouth State University and the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (UMass–Darthmouth) became the first MASCAC associate members to upgrade as affiliate members for football (after years as associate members since the 2013 fall season), beginning the 2025 fall season of the 2025–26 academic year.[11]
On August 8, 2024, Marymount University and Marywood University announced it would join the MASCAC as associate members for men's golf, beginning almost immediately for the 2024 fall season of the 2024-25 academic year as the first members (full or associate) in conference history outside of New England.[12]
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 at Lowell [a.k.a. UMass–Lowell]) after the 1974–75 academic year.
- 1982 – Boston State College left the MASCAC when it was merged into the University of Massachusetts at Boston (a.k.a. UMass–Boston) after the 1981–82 academic year.
- 2009 – The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (a.k.a. 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.
- 2018 – Western Connecticut State added men's golf into its MASCAC associate membership in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year).
- 2019:
- Western Connecticut State left the MASCAC as an associate member for men's golf after the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year).
- 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:
- Elms left the MASCAC as an associate member for men's golf after the 2021 spring season (2020–21 academic year).
- New England College joined the MASCAC as an associate member for men's golf in the 2022 spring season (2021–22 academic year).
- 2023:
- Eastern Nazarene, Mitchell and New England (N.H.) left the MASCAC as associate members for men's golf after the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year).
- MCLA reinstated its men's ice hockey program for the first time since 2002–03, while adding a women's ice hockey program, both effective in the 2023–24 academic year.
- 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 in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
- Vermont State University at Castleton (VSU Castleton) joined the MASCAC as an associate member for football in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
- Marymount University and Marywood University joined the MASCAC as associate members for men's golf in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year); thus being the first members (full or associate) in conference history outside of New England.
- 2025:
- Vermont State–Castleton (VSU Castleton) and Western Connecticut State left the MASCAC as associate members for football after the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
- Anna Maria upgraded as a full member of the MASCAC for all sports in the 2025–26 academic year; thus being the first full private school member in conference history and the first new full member since Massachusetts Maritime in 1974.
- Dean rejoined the MASCAC as an associate member for football (formerly competing for men's golf), with Plymouth State and UMass–Darthmouth upgrading to affiliate member status, all effective in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year).
- 2026:
- Anna Maria left the MASCAC after the 2025–26 academic year; as the school announced that it would be ceasing operations.
- The University of Saint Joseph joined the MASCAC as an associate member for men's and women's ice hockey in the 2026–27 academic year.
- Men's lacrosse became the 20th sponsored sport in the MASCAC, beginning the 2026–27 academic year. Alongside full members MCLA, Mass Maritime and Salem State, Husson University, Maine Maritime Academy and Thomas College will join as affiliate members for the sport.
- 2027:
- Vermont State–Castleton will join the MASCAC for all sports in the 2027–28 academic year; thus being the first full member outside of the state of Massachusetts in conference history.
- Fitchburg State will add women's ice hockey as a varsity sport, beginning the 2027–28 academic year.
Member schools
Current full members
The MASCAC currently has eight full members, and all are public schools:
| Institution | Location[a] | Founded | Affiliation[b] | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) |
Nickname | Joined[c] | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
- School does not sponsor ice hockey.
- Actual amount in endowment is $35,385,907.
- 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 eleven associate members, all but three are 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.
- Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
- Part of the University of Massachusetts System.
Future full member
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation[a] | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining[b] | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont State University–Castleton | Castleton, Vermont | 1787 (as Castleton University)
2023 (as VTSU-Castleton) |
Public[c] | 2,363 | Spartans | 2027[d] | 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.
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.
- Before joining for full membership, VTSU Castleton competed in the MASCAC as an associate member for football during the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
Former full members
The MASCAC had three former full members, two were public schools and one was a private school:
| Institution | Location[a] | Founded | Affiliation[b] | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[c] | Left[d] | Colors | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria College | Paxton | 1946 | Catholic (S.S.A.) |
1,485 | Amcats | 2025[e] | 2026 | Closed in 2026 | |
| Boston State College | Boston | 1872 | Public | 11,000[14] | Warriors | 1971 | 1982 | N/A | N/A[f] |
| Lowell State College | Lowell | 1894 | Public | 2,353[15] | Indians[16][17] | 1971 | 1975 | N/A | N/A[g] |
- 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.
- Before joining for full membership, Anna Maria competed in the MASCAC as an associate member for men's and women's ice hockey during the 2024–25 school year.
- 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 | | |
| Football | |
|
| Golf | |
|
| Ice Hockey | |
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| Lacrosse | |
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| Soccer | |
|
| Softball | | |
| Track & Field (Indoor) | |
|
| Track & Field (Outdoor) | |
|
| Volleyball | |
Men's Sports
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country |
Football | Golf | Ice Hockey |
Lacrosse | Soccer | Track & Field (Indoor) |
Track & Field (Outdoor) | Total MASCAC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State | |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| Fitchburg State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Framingham State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Mass Maritime | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| MCLA | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Salem State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Westfield State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Worcester State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Totals | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6+3 | 4+3 | 6+2 | 4+3 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 58+11 |
| Affiliate Members | |||||||||||
| Dean | |
1 | |||||||||
| Husson | |
1 | |||||||||
| Maine Maritime | |
1 | |||||||||
| Marymount | |
1 | |||||||||
| Marywood | |
1 | |||||||||
| Plymouth State | |
1 | |||||||||
| Rivier | |
1 | |||||||||
| Saint Joseph (CT) | |
1 | |||||||||
| Springfield | |
1 | |||||||||
| Thomas | |
1 | |||||||||
| UMass Dartmouth | |
1 | |||||||||
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the MASCAC that are played by MASCAC schools
- Notes
Women's Sports
| School | Basketball | Cross Country |
Field Hockey |
Ice Hockey |
Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Track & Field (Indoor) |
Track & Field (Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total MASCAC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Fitchburg State | |
|
|
[a] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Framingham State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Mass Maritime | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| MCLA | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| Salem State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| Westfield State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Worcester State | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
| Totals | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4+2 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 64+2 |
| Affiliate Members | |||||||||||
| Rivier | |
1 | |||||||||
| Saint Joseph (CT) | |
1 | |||||||||
- Adding in 2027-28
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the MASCAC that are played by MASCAC schools
- Notes
Football
For the current season, see 2025 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 |
