Merrimack, which was also ranked second in the Presidents’ Cup Standings following the fall season during the 2013-14 academic year, earned 80.5 points after a remarkable first three months of the academic year. Two years ago, Merrimack earned 72.5 points after the fall season and was ranked second, and last year, the Warriors were slotted sixth in the fall standings after posting 62.5 points. Those points were garnered thanks to a second-place finish in the league standings by the men’s soccer team and a third-place finish from the field hockey team – both of which qualified for the NCAA Tournament in their respective sports – while the football team (3rd), women’s tennis team (4th) and women’s soccer team (5th) also posted top-five finishes in their league standings in the regular season. Every one of those teams qualified for their respective NE-10 Championship, as well, while the football team earned its highest finish in the league standings since last winning the league title in 2009. The women’s golf team was a league champion for the second straight season and contributed five points to Merrimack’s total; the men’s and women’s cross country teams finished sixth and fifth, respectively, at the NE-10 Championship meet, while the women’s volleyball team added three points to round out the Warriors’ sensational fall slate inside league play. The Presidents’ Cup is presented annually to signify overall athletic excellence in the Northeast-10 Conference. The honor is awarded to the institution that compiles the most cumulative points, based on finishes in the regular-season standings, from all of its programs competing in league championships. The fall season includes the sports of men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, football and volleyball.
Adelphi led the pack with a league-high 89.0 points after the Panthers won three NE-10 titles in the fall, earned a share of the regular season title in a fourth sport and finished in second place in a fifth. Bentley University was third, collecting 79.5 points this fall, while Southern New Hampshire University was right behind in fourth with 78.5 points. Defending Presidents’ Cup winner Stonehill College rounded out the top 5 with 71.0, just ahead of Assumption College in sixth with 70.5 points. For the complete standings through the fall season, please see below. For the year-by-year history of past Presidents’ Cup winners, please click here.
2015-16 Northeast-10 Conference Presidents’ Cup Standings Through Fall Season
1. Adelphi – 89.0
2. Merrimack – 80.5
3. Bentley – 79.5
4. Southern New Hampshire – 78.5
5. Stonehill – 71.0
6. Assumption – 70.5
7. American International – 63.5
8. Le Moyne – 59.0
9. Franklin Pierce – 58.0
10. Saint Rose – 54.0
11. New Haven – 43.0
12. Saint Anselm – 40.5
13. Southern Connecticut – 40.0
14. Saint Michael’s – 30.5
15. Pace – 21.5
