SJC Men, Emmanuel Women Narrowly Capture 2018-19 GNAC Commissioner's Cups

FOR IMMEDIATER RELEASE

COMMISH CUP BY YEAR

Monks men claim cup outright for first time,
Saints women win second in four years

WINTHROP, Mass. – The Saint Joesph's College of Maine men and Emmanuel College women have won the distinguished Great Northeast Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cups for the 2018-19 academic year, as announced by GNAC Commissioner Joe Walsh on Thursday afternoon.

It marks the first-ever outright cup for for SJC, as the Monks shared the 2011-12 distinction with Johnson & Wales University (RI). This past year, Saint Joseph's captured the GNAC Men's Soccer and Baseball team titles, a runner-up finish in outdoor track & field, while advancing to the semifinals of the GNAC Men's Basketball Tournament.

As for Emmanuel, it is the second women's cup for the Saints in four years, as the department also won it in 2015-16. Emmanuel has now achieved the feat it four times overall dating back to 2008-09. The Saints won GNAC titles in women's basketball and women's cross country, finished second at the outdoor track & field championship, and advanced to the semis of the women's soccer and softball tournaments.

The GNAC Commissioner's Cup annually recognizes the member institution achieving the highest level of athletic success throughout the academic year. It is based upon a point system and standings are determined by percentages in order to reflect the number of GNAC sports that each member sponsors.

Schools receive five points for winning a GNAC Championship, four points for advancing to a conference title game, three points for competing in a GNAC Semifinal, two points for qualifying for a GNAC Tournament, or one point for sponsoring the sport.

In the men's standings, Saint Joseph's received 26 of 40 points for 65%, just ahead of second-place finisher Johnson & Wales University (RI), which received 24 of 40 points for 60%. SJC and JWU went toe-to-toe in the GNAC Baseball Tournament Final on May 6, with the Monks winning an 8-7 thriller in extra innings over the Wildcats.

In the women's standings, Emmanuel garnered 24 of 35 points for 69.57%, while Saint Joseph's finished second with 64.44% (29/45). Back in February in the GNAC Women's Basketball Championship, the two powerhouse programs squared off with Emmanuel upsetting the Monks on the road, 65-64, before both teams competed in the NCAA Tournament.

For the complete standings for both awards, please see below.

Following SJC and JWU on the men's side were Albertus Magnus College (53.3%) with a third-place finish, followed by Emmanuel in fourth (51.43%) and first-year GNAC member Colby-Sawyer College (48.89%) with an impressive fifth-place finish.

After Emmanuel and SJC in the women's standings, JWU (62.5%) finished in third place, followed by Colby-Sawyer (55.56%) and Simmons University (53.33%).

MEN'S STANDINGS
1. Saint Joseph's (Maine) - 26/40 = 65%
2. Johnson & Wales (RI) - 24/40 = 60%
3. Albertus Magnus - 16/30 = 53.33%
4. Emmanuel - 18/35 = 51.43%
5. Colby-Sawyer - 22/45 = 48.89%
6. Norwich - 17/35 = 48.57%
T7. Lasell - 16/35 = 45.71%
T7. Suffolk - 16/35 = 45.71%
9. Saint Joseph (Conn.) - 9/20 = 45%
10. Rivier - 13/30 = 43.33%
11. Regis - 15/40 = 37.5%
12. Anna Maria - 7/25 = 28%

WOMEN'S STANDINGS
1. Emmanuel - 24/35 = 68.57%
2. Saint Joseph's (Maine) - 29/45 = 64.44%
3. Johnson & Wales (RI) - 25/40 = 62.5%
4. Colby-Sawyer - 25/45 = 55.56%
5. Simmons - 24/45 = 53.33%
6. Regis - 25/50 = 50%
7. Suffolk - 17/35 = 48.57%
8. Lasell - 19/40 = 47.5%
9. Saint Joseph (Conn.) - 15/40 = 37.5%
10. Norwich - 12/35 = 34.29%
11. Albertus Magnus - 9/30 = 30%
12. Rivier - 10/35 = 28.57%
13. Anna Maria - 9/35 = 25.71%

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –