Dec. 31, 2010

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Marist capped the 2009-10 school year by setting a MAAC record and capturing the Commissioner's Cup -- the conference's highest honor -- for the ninth time in school history.

The Red Foxes earned the honor in large part due to six MAAC championships, with women's swimming & diving, women's basketball, men's crew, men's tennis, water polo and women's lacrosse.

Marist has now won 22 overall Commissioner's Cups. The Red Foxes won the women's Cup for the sixth time in 2010, and have also captured the men's Cup seven times.

Thanks for following along with us for the last 10 days. We wish you a Happy New Year, and hope that 2011 gives us plenty to cheer about as well.

Below is the release announcing Marist's record-setting Commissioner's Cup.

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June 4, 2010 - Marist College, which captured six Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship titles during the 2009-10 academic year, has earned the league's highest honor, winning the Academy Bus MAAC Commissioner's Cup.

Marist has now won the most overall commissioner's cups, claiming the nine times (1998-99 through 2001-02, 2004-05 through 2007-08 and 2009-10). The Red Foxes also won their sixth women's cup (2000-01, 2004-05 through 2007-08, 2009-10). Marist won two men's and four women's championships this past season. In the winter, the Red Foxes earned the title crown in both women's swimming & diving and women's basketball. In the spring, Marist won championship titles in men's rowing, men's tennis, women's water polo and women's lacrosse.

"Winning the Commissioner's Cup validates the accomplishments of our student-athletes and coaches this year," Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "Marist takes great pride in the success of our athletes both on the field and in the classroom."

Loyola University was awarded the men's cup for the third straight year. The Greyhounds earned league titles in men's soccer, men's swimming and men's golf.

"Congratulations to Marist College on their record setting achievement, and to Loyola University for its dominance of the men's cup," noted MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor. "Maintaining success at this level of competition is no easy task, and the student-athletes, coaches and administrators of Marist and Loyola are remarkable in their consistency to deliver the results that drive this honor."

The Academy Bus MAAC Commissioner's Cup is awarded annually as a symbol of overall excellence in athletics in the 24 championship athletic events conducted within the MAAC. Each institution is scored in all championships that it fields a varsity team. However, only the scores from the men's and women's basketball participation, plus the other top six men's and other top six women's championships shall be used to determine an institution's total points.

Marist finished the overall race with a total of 125 points, 12 points ahead of runner-up Fairfield University. On the men's side, Loyola captured the league crown with 52 points, two points more than Marist and Rider University. The Red Foxes finished in the top spot in the women's cup race by compiling 75 points, eight and a half points ahead of Fairfield.

The overall field finished as follows: Marist (125), Fairfield (113), Iona College (109), Loyola (108.50), Siena College (91.50), Niagara University (84.50), Canisius College and Rider (82.50), Manhattan College (75), and Saint Peter's College (51.50).

In the men's standings, Marist and Rider finished second with 50 points, followed by Iona (48.50), Fairfield (46.50), Siena (44.50), Canisius (37), Manhattan (36), Saint Peter's (32.50) and Niagara (32).

On the women's side, Fairfield was second with 66.50 points, followed by Iona (60.50), Loyola (56.50), Niagara (52.50), Siena (47), Canisius (45.50), Manhattan (39), Rider (32.50) and Saint Peter's (19).

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup Year-By-Year Champions