GORHAM, Maine  -  The Keene State College Owls have captured the inaugural Little East Conference Commissioner's Cup according to final standings released late Monday (June 18) afternoon by conference commissioner William M. Moore.  The Owls scored 83 points to edge the University of Southern Maine Huskies by two points for the honor.

The Commissioner's Cup is awarded to the Little East Conference school which accumulates the most points in the conference's 18 sports during each school year.  Points are awarded based on each school's regular season finish, with bonus points awarded to the conference postseason tournament winners in the sports of field hockey, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's lacrosse and softball.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Little East Conference - formed in 1986 as a men's and women's basketball conference.  Since that time, the conference has grown from its six charter members to its present eight institutions, and now sponsors championships in 18 intercollegiate sports - baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor track, men's and women's outdoor track and volleyball.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs finished third, scoring 73 points, while the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University placed fourth with 68 points.  The Plymouth State College Panthers tallied 56.5 points for fifth place.  Western Connecticut State University's Colonials totaled 52.5 points to finish sixth.  The Rhode Island College Anchormen and Anchorwomen accumulated 50 points for seventh place, while the Beacons of the University of Massachusetts Boston notched 30 points to finish eighth.