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Bridgewater, NJ -- LIU returned to the top of the Northeast Conference (NEC) all-sports race.
The Sharks claimed their fourth Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup, adding to a recent run of success that now includes three Cup titles in five years. LIU also doubled up by capturing its second NEC Men’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Saint Francis U took back the women’s crown, marking its fifth Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup victory.
The NEC’s Commissioner’s Cup program rewards the all-around performance of an athletic program in NEC sponsored sports.
LIU edged out Wagner in one of the tightest finishes in Brenda Weare Cup history. The Sharks compiled 198.67 points, fending off Wagner (194.16) by just 4.51 points, the closest margin since the 2002-03 season.
Wagner made a massive leap in the standings, vaulting from seventh a year ago to an all-time-best second-place finish. Saint Francis U posted a third-place result (190.00), marking its third consecutive year in the top three.
CCSU took fourth with 174.95 points, the Blue Devils’ best performance since the 2017-18 campaign. Stonehill followed close behind in fifth (173.38), marking the Skyhawks’ highest showing since joining the NEC in 2022-23.
FDU (172.00) and Le Moyne (111.85) rounded out the middle of the pack, while NEC newcomers Mercyhurst (90.63) and Chicago State (87.32) completed the standings.
The Sharks claimed NEC titles in men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse, and also captured regular season titles in baseball, women’s lacrosse and softball.
Highlighting the program’s depth, LIU earned top-three NEC finishes in baseball, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, softball, and men’s and women’s volleyball.
LIU previously captured the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup in 1986-87, and then won it back-to-back in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. The Sharks have finished in the top five of the Cup standings in each of the last ten seasons, cracking the top three five times in a row.
“LIU Athletics believes that nothing stands in the way of creating a sustainable long-term championship culture,” said Elliott Charles, LIU’s Director of Athletics. “We also strive to position ourselves at the forefront of the conference and we are proud to accomplish such incredible honor by winning the Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup. In this new landscape of college athletics, this year’s finish at the top of the NEC is a testament to the hard work, leadership, innovation and vision of Long Island University. This is only the beginning!”
LIU separated from the pack to earn its second NEC Men’s Commissioner’s Cup title.
The Sharks tallied 97.01 points - nearly 10 more than runner-up CCSU (87.44) - to secure their first Men’s Cup since the 2021-22 season. Wagner (77.22) rounded out the top three.
LIU’s strong all-around year included an NEC championship in men’s soccer and tournament runner-up finishes in baseball, men’s golf and men’s tennis. The Sharks have now logged top-three finishes in the Men’s Cup standings in each of the last five seasons.
Saint Francis U captured the Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup for the fifth time, continuing a steady climb to the top.
The Red Flash totaled 128.92 points to comfortably finish ahead of Wagner (116.94) and Stonehill (106.05). It marked SFU’s first women’s Cup victory since 2017-18, and its fifth overall, tying them for second all-time in total Cup wins. SFU also won in 2004-05, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
SFU’s ascent has been steady in recent years, rising from fourth place in 2021-22 to third in 2022-23 and second last year. This season’s Cup was powered by a championship run in softball, along with runner-up tournament finishes in women’s cross country and women’s tennis.
“It is exciting for our Red Flash family to win the Joan Martin Women’s Cup and third place overall in the Northeast Conference Commissioners Cup,” said Saint Francis U Director of Athletics Jim Brazill. “The award is a testament to the tremendous support from the university administration, coaches and staff, and the hard work, dedication and commitment of our student-athletes. The award highlights the accomplishments of our student athletes who have represented Saint Francis University in the classroom, in service and in competition.”
With its third-place overall finish, SFU has achieved a top-three placement in 12 of the last 15 years.
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.
The Cup was not awarded during the 2019-20 academic year that was interrupted by the cancellation of the spring season.
2024-25 Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup Standings
| Sport |
CCSU |
CSU |
FDU |
LEM |
LIU |
MU |
SFU |
STO |
WC |
| M. Cross Country |
14 |
3 |
7.13 |
9.88 |
8.5 |
4.38 |
5.75 |
11.25 |
12.63 |
| W. Cross Country |
14 |
3 |
4.38 |
5.75 |
8.5 |
7.13 |
12.63 |
9.88 |
11.25 |
| Field Hockey |
|
|
|
|
9.19 |
3 |
9.19 |
7.13 |
14 |
| Women's Soccer |
9.6 |
4.1 |
11.25 |
5.2 |
7.95 |
6.3 |
7.95 |
11.25 |
12.9 |
| Men's Soccer |
3 |
5.07 |
11.94 |
8.5 |
12.88 |
14 |
11.94 |
7.13 |
|
| Women's Volleyball |
3 |
17 |
12.43 |
5.36 |
10.08 |
7.71 |
10.08 |
5.36 |
|
| Football |
13.09 |
|
|
|
8.5 |
|
5.75 |
3 |
5.75 |
| Women's Swimming |
14 |
|
|
3 |
6.67 |
|
10.33 |
4.83 |
8.5 |
| Men’s Swimming* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| M. Indoor Track |
14 |
9.29 |
6.14 |
3 |
4.57 |
|
7.71 |
10.86 |
12.43 |
| W. Indoor Track |
7.71 |
9.29 |
6.14 |
4.57 |
3 |
|
10.86 |
12.43 |
14 |
| Men's Basketball |
14 |
3.69 |
9.19 |
3.69 |
12.63 |
11.25 |
12.19 |
7.13 |
5.75 |
| Women's Basketball |
11.25 |
7.13 |
17 |
7.13 |
3 |
7.13 |
9.88 |
12.63 |
4.38 |
| Women's Bowling* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Women's Golf |
|
4.5 |
14 |
7 |
9.5 |
6 |
12 |
9.5 |
8 |
| Men's Tennis |
|
|
9.42 |
4.83 |
12.17 |
|
4.83 |
4.83 |
9.42 |
| Women's Tennis |
|
|
14 |
4.83 |
9.42 |
|
12.17 |
4.83 |
9.42 |
| Men's Volleyball* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Men's Golf |
|
7.4 |
11.8 |
10.7 |
12.9 |
3 |
5.2 |
|
9.6 |
| Women's Lacrosse |
5.44 |
|
7.89 |
6.67 |
15.78 |
10.33 |
9.11 |
12.78 |
12.78 |
| Men's Lacrosse* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| M.Outdoor Track |
14 |
6.14 |
4.57 |
3 |
10.86 |
|
7.71 |
12.43 |
9.29 |
| W.Outdoor Track |
12.43 |
7.71 |
6.14 |
3 |
4.57 |
|
9.29 |
10.86 |
14 |
| Softball |
10.08 |
|
10.08 |
6.14 |
14 |
3 |
15.43 |
4.57 |
7.71 |
| Baseball |
15.35 |
|
8.5 |
9.6 |
14 |
7.4 |
|
10.7 |
12.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
174.95 |
87.32 |
172 |
111.85 |
198.67 |
90.63 |
190 |
173.38 |
194.16 |
| Men |
87.44 |
34.59 |
68.69 |
53.2 |
97.01 |
40.03 |
61.08 |
67.33 |
77.22 |
| Women |
87.51 |
52.73 |
103.31 |
58.65 |
101.66 |
50.6 |
128.92 |
106.05 |
116.94 |
|
CCSU |
CSU |
FDU |
LEM |
LIU |
MU |
SFU |
STO |
WC |
* Cup points are not awarded for any sport with fewer than five full-time NEC members
About the Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup
The NEC Commissioner’s Cup was instituted during the 1986-87 season with LIU winning the inaugural award. Sacred Heart leads all current NEC schools with nine 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, men’s and women’s volleyball, football, women’s bowling, softball, 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 44th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#8). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#87). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis U, Stonehill 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 TikTok, all @NECsports.