NEEDHAM, Mass. – Southern New Hampshire University finished third in the NE10 Presidents' Cup standings, the league office announced at its end-of-the-year banquet Tuesday night. The Penmen had won back-to-back Presidents' Cups – the first institution to do so since 2017-18 and 2018-19.
SNHU, which posted its third-best finish ever, collected 138.5 points, with Adelphi University capturing the cup with 178.5 points. Bentley University slotted in second with 148.0 points. Assumption University (136.5) was just behind the Penmen in fourth, with Franklin Pierce University (128.5), Southern Connecticut University (126.0) and Saint Anselm College (125.0) placing fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. The University of New Haven (111.0) was eighth, with Pace University (90.0) coming in ninth. The College of Saint Rose (75.0), Saint Michael's College (73.0) and American International College (54.0) rounded out the standings. The Presidents' Cup is presented annually to signify overall athletic excellence in the NE10. It 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.
Sponsoring 18 of the conference's 24 sports, the Penmen, who now have five top-five finishes in the last seven seasons, gathered 71 percent of their possible 194 points – the second highest in the league. Adelphi clocked in with the most at 78 percent, while Southern Connecticut (65%) and Bentley (64%) were the next closest. The six sports SNHU is not eligible to earn points in are the second most in the conference. Despite that, it was the only school in the league to earn more than 70 percent of its possible points in each of the three seasons, with 71 percent in the fall and winter, and 73 percent in the spring. Adelphi (85/63/82) and Bentley (71/69/52) were the closest competitors.
For the first time in NE10 history, the 2023-24 academic year also recognized Men's and Women's Presidents' Cup champions, increasing the total number of honorees to three (overall, men and women). SNHU was second in the Women's Sports Cup, totaling 86.0 points to finish behind Adelphi (99.0) in both points and percentage (77-75). The Penmen were sixth in the Men's Sports Cup (52.5), with Adelphi (79.5) also winning there, though SNHU checked in third in percentage (66) behind Adelphi (80) and Southern Connecticut (73).
Of SNHU's 18 squads, 16 finished sixth or better, with nine placing in the top three and 12 in the top four. The Penmen earned the highest number of points from baseball (12.0), field hockey (10.5) and women's soccer (10.0), with women's tennis (8.0) and men's tennis (5.5) joining baseball in having won NE10 Regular-Season Championships. Women's cross country (9.0), women's basketball (9.0), women's outdoor track & field (9.0). softball (8.5), volleyball (8.0) and women's indoor track & field (8.0) also contributed a high number of points.
2023-24 NE10 Presidents' Cup Standings
1. Adelphi – 178.5
2. Bentley – 148.0
3. Southern New Hampshire – 138.5
4. Assumption – 136.5
5. Franklin Pierce – 128.5
6. Southern Connecticut – 126.0
7. Saint Anselm – 125.0
8. New Haven – 111.0
9. Pace – 90.0
10. Saint Rose – 75.0
11. Saint Michael's – 73.0
12. American Int'l – 54.0
