NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Keene State College won its unprecedented ninth straight Little East Commissioner's Cup after the conference office released the final standings for the 2008-09 athletic year this afternoon. The Owls averaged 6.552 points to win the trophy in each of the nine years it has been awarded. Eastern Connecticut State University finished second for the fourth consecutive campaign (5.897). 

"I would like to once again congratulate Keene State College on continuing its run on Little East Commissioner's Cup trophies," said Commissioner Jonathan C. Harper. "It is remarkable in a league as balanced and steeped in tradition that one institution can claim the conference's top overall honor nine years running. I congratulate President Dr. Helen Giles-Gee, Director of Athletics John Ratliff, his administrative staff, coaches, and most importantly student-athletes for their commitment to the program as integral part of their overall academic experience.  

Keene State consistently finished in the top-tier of the final regular season standings in 14 of the 17 (.824) championship sports they competed in. The Owls used a sensational fall season to take command of the eight-team standings, winning four of the six championships to average 7.317 points. Keene State captured the conference tournament crown in field hockey and volleyball, while also winning the men's and women's cross country championships. The Owls continued to pad their lead in the winter by finishing in the top-three of the regular season standings in four of five sponsored sports, including winning the women's swimming and diving championship. Keene State captured the program's first women's lacrosse championship in the spring, and finished second in men's lacrosse, men's outdoor track and field, and softball.

The Warriors used the highest seasonal average (spring, 7.333) to make a late charge in the Commissioner's Cup standings, but were unable to catch the Owls for the sixth time in the trophies history. Eastern Connecticut finished in the top-three of the regular season standings in 10 of the 17 sports they competed in. The Warriors captured each of their two conference championships in the spring, raising the Little East trophy in baseball and men's lacrosse. Eastern Connecticut won at least a share of the regular season championship in women's soccer, women's basketball, and women's lacrosse to fend off a late charge from the University of Southern Maine.

The Huskies won six Little East championships during the 2008-09 academic year, while also winning the regular season title in baseball and men's soccer to average 5.357 points. University of Southern Maine captured all four of the track and field championships in addition to the program's 19th women's basketball tournament championship.  The Huskies have finished in the top-three of the Commissioner's Cup standings six times in the past nine years.

Rhode Island College (4.624), the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (4.504), Western Connecticut State University (4.484), Plymouth State University (4.047), and the University of Massachusetts Boston (2.606) complete the 2008-09 Commissioner's Cup standings.

The Commissioner's Cup measures an institution's overall performance in the 19 sports sponsored by the Little East Conference. For sports in which the conference conducts in-season play (baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball), point totals are determined by the order of finish in the final regular season standings with bonus points awarded to the champion of the ensuing postseason conference championship tournament. For sports that do not conduct in-season play (cross country, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and swimming and diving) points are awarded based on the order of finish in the conference championship meet.

The Little East Conference completed its 23rd year of athletic competition during the 2008-09 academic year. Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference has grown to its present eight-team membership, sponsoring championship play in 19 intercollegiate athletic programs.