Western New England College
Football News

GOLDEN BEARS LOOK FOR IMPROVEMENT IN 2003

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —Western New England College hopes to rebound from last year's disappointing season with 18 starters among the 40 returning letter-winners.

The Golden Bears finished with a 1-8 mark in 2002 after losing one game by a single point and another in overtime, and placed last in the Boyd Division of the New England Football Conference (NEFC).

"With any luck our record could have been better because we played a number of close games," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "For us to get better, we have to minimize our mental mistakes and remain focused for the entire 60 minutes. Hopefully, a year's worth of experience will be just what the doctor ordered. Our goal is to become competitive in our talented division."

Heading the list of eight returning starters on offense is junior back Mike Laroche (Kensington, CT) who led the squad with 609 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in his first season as a starter.

Senior captain Matt Sotherden (Pleasantville, NY) has the inside track at the quarterback position. "Matt' past experience will be important to the success of our offense," noted Martin.

Up front, junior tackle Andy Zell (Hurley, NY) will anchor the offensive line while senior Steve Pantaleo (Seymour, CT) moves from tight end to guard to provide more experience.

Among the other players to watch are juniors, running back/quarterback Pat Belmonte (Beverly, MA), tight end Greg Clarke (South Dartmouth, MA), running back Neil Connery (Derby, CT), guard Phil Giguere (East Longmeadow, MA), wide receiver Stephen Johnson (North Easton, MA), and sophomore tackle Jon Stanisewski (West Hatfield, MA),

Martin lost four starters on defense, including All-NEFC and ECAC Division III New England All-Star linebacker Charles Adams who compiled a team high 92 tackles.

Senior linebacker Jeff Pinney (Westfield, MA) (61 tackles) and senior cornerback Brad Estes (Madison, ME) (53 tackles) are All-Star caliber players and team captains. Pinney added two interceptions along with a fumble recovery. Estes was tied for third in the conference in punt returns with a 10.2 average and led the Golden Bears with 10 pass breakups and five fumble recoveries.

Western New England College has three experienced players in senior defensive end/captain Paul Delanoy (White Plains, NY), junior tackle Dayne Poirot (Cheshire, MA), and sophomore end Brendan Guidi (Holyoke, MA).

Junior cornerback Mike Gialousis (Hooksett, NH) and sophomore linebacker Charles Najjar (East Haven, CT) also will make their presence felt.

The kicking game appears solid with senior punter Mike Lynch (Yorktown, NY) and junior place-kicker Loren Estabrook (Sharon, NH) ready for big seasons.

Among the newcomers to watch are sophomore defensive backs Brandon Dickman (Glastonbury, CT) and Joe Rooney (El Segundo, CA), and the following freshmen, running back Derek Charron (Chicopee, MA), defensive backs Phil Choe (Westfield, MA) and Terrance Hall (Springfield, MA), defensive tackle Mike Corso (Poughkeepsie, NY), quarterback James Kantany (East Longmeadow, MA), center Chris Picchieri (Toms River, NJ), and linebacker Chance Seymour (Springfield, MA).

WNEC opens its 37th season at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at Westfield State College in the annual President's Trophy contest.

2002 FOOTBALL NEWS

SENIOR LINEBACKER CHARLES ADAMS NAMED TO ECAC DIVISION III NORTHEAST FOOTBALL TEAM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Dec. 12, 2002) — Western New England College senior linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, MA) was named Thursday to the 2002 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Northeast Football Conference All-Star Second Team.

Adams led the New England Football Conference (NEFC) with 92 tackles (11.5 average that was 17th among NCAA Division III players). He had 47 unassisted tackles, six stops for losses, two sacks, and two interceptions.

A computer science major, Adams was a first team NEFC All-Star selection this past season after earning NEFC All-Star second team honors in 2001.

Western New England College Fall Sports Banquet
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002
List of Award Recipients

Football
Offensive Most Valuable Player — Sophomore Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT).
Defensive Most Valuable Player — Senior Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA).
Coaches Award for Contributions to the Team — Senior Scott Hurlbut (Mecklenburg, NY). Jimmy Geyer Award for Courage and Leadership — Senior Anthony Verdile (East Longmeadow, MA).

FIVE GOLDEN BEARS SELECTED TO NEFC ALL-STAR TEAM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 18, 2002) — Five Western New England College players earned spots on the 2002 New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Star Team.

Senior linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, MA) made the NEFC All-Star first team after compiling a conference high 92 tackles. He was a second team choice last year.

Senior defensive tackle Scott Hurlbut (Mecklenburg, NY) and senior defensive back John Marine (Hudson Falls, NY) both made the NEFC All-Star second team while graduate student offensive lineman Joe DeMars (Springfield, MA) and senior linebacker/defensive end Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA) each received an honorable mention.

Hurlbut, Marine, and Sondrini served as team captains this season.

WNEC BOWS TO NICHOLS COLLEGE IN SEASON FINALE 48-6

DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 9, 2002) — Sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) ran for 83 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough as Nichols College defeated Western New England College, 48-6, at the Bison Bowl. The Golden Bears finish their season with a 1-8 record and 0-5 mark in the NEFC Boyd Division.

SOPHOMORE BRAD ESTES HONORED AS THE WNEC MALE ATHLETE-OF-THE-WEEK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 5, 2002) — Sophomore Brad Estes (Madison, ME) was honored Tuesday as the Western New England College Male Athlete-of-the-Week.

Estes, a free safety, compiled seven tackles (four solo) with three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups in a loss against Curry College. He returned two punts for 71 yards and caught two passes for 53 yards.

A math major, Estes also was named to the weekly New England Football Conference (NEFC) honor roll.

WNEC VISITS NICHOLS COLLEGE IN SEASON FINALE SATURDAY

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 5, 2002) — Western New England College closes its season with a road contest against Nichols College starting at 12:00 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 9) in a New England Football Conference Boyd Division game at the Bison Bowl in Dudley.

WNEC has a 1-7 record and 0-4 division mark following a 27-9 loss against Curry College. Nichols has a 4-4 record and 2-2 mark in the division after a 22-7 win over MIT.

"We are going to use the Nichols game as our first contest of the 2003 season," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "We're hoping to end on a winning note so that will carry us over to next year. It's been a frustrating season, but even though we didnÕt get many breaks, we never quit and that's a credit to the players on our team."

Sophomore free safety Brad Estes (Madison, ME) made the weekly NEFC honor roll and was selected the WNEC Male Athlete-of-the-Week after a terrific performance against Curry. He compiled seven tackles (four solo) with three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. Estes also returned two punts for 71 yards and caught two passes for 53 yards. He is second in the NEFC with a 10.6 average for 19 punt returns.

Another player having a fine season for the Golden Bears is senior linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, PA) who leads the conference with 92 tackles (11.5 avg.).

Nichols also is looking for a strong finish to complete a winning season. The Bison have a balanced offensive attack with senior quarterback Nick Perron (1,120 yards passing, 11 touchdowns) and junior wide receiver Ben Karter (40 receptions, 604 yards, seven touchdowns) leading the way. Junior running back Anthony Smith leads the NEFC in punt returns (12.7 avg.) and is tied for first in all-purpose yards (189.0 avg.).

This is the 19th meeting between the schools with Nichols holding a 12-6 lead in the series that started in 1981. The Bison have won the last three meetings.

CURRY COLLEGE GAINS 27-9 WIN OVER WNEC IN NEFC BOYD ACTION

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 2, 2002) Ñ Junior running back Raphael Zammit (Saugus, MA) ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns to lead visiting Curry College to a 27-9 victory over host Western New England College in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division contest at Golden Bears Stadium.

Curry is now 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the division. WNEC falls to 1-7 and 0-4.

For the second straight week, Western New England College took an early 3-0 lead when Loren Estabrook (Sharon, NH) drilled a 31-yard field goal on the final play of the first quarter.

Curry, however, came back to score the next 27 points of the contest.

Zammitt led the charge by bolting 61 yards at the 3:59 mark of the second quarter to give the Colonels a 7-3 halftime advantage. He added a one-yard score and electrifying 74-yard run as Curry extended its margin to 20-3 with 10:12 left in the third quarter. Zammitt leads the NEFC with 1,202 yards rushing and is second with 17 touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Tim Philbrook (Malden, MA) (11-for-24, 144 yards) tossed a six-yard scoring pass to senior tight end Larry Mulrey (Somerville, MA) with 12:18 remaining in the game.

WNEC got on the board 1:33 later when sophomore quarterback Jeff Malayter (Cheshire, CT) (11-of-27, 187 yards) hit sophomore split end Brett Hanson (Gilbertville, MA) with a seven-yard toss. It was Hanson's first collegiate touchdown.

Sophomore free safety Brad Estes (Madison, ME) had a big day for the Golden Bears. He made seven tackles (four solo) and had three fumble recoveries with two pass breakups. Estes also returned two punts for 71 yards (with a long of 69) and caught two passes for 53 yards (with al ong of 31).

Senior cornerback John Marine (Hudson Falls, NY) compiled eight tackles (two for losses) and had an interception while senior defensive tackle Scott Hurlbut (Mecklenburg, NY) recorded seven stops (including three for losses) in their final home appearances.

Curry finished with 388 yards while WNEC totaled 311 yards on a chilly fall afternoon.

WNEC LOOKS FOR WIN VS. CURRY IN FINAL HOME GAME OF SEASON ON SENIOR DAY

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 26, 2002) — Western New England College hopes to end its home season on a positive note against Curry College beginning at 12:00 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 2) in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division game at Golden Bears Stadium.

WNEC fell to 1-6 record and 0-3 in the division after a loss (37-3) against first-place UMass-Dartmouth last Saturday. Curry has a 5-2 record and 2-2 division mark after defeating Nichols College (24-14) in its last start on October 19.

"Our players are looking forward to ending the home season with a win," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "We are disappointed with our mental mistakes, but hope that this learning experience will help us down the road."

Western New England College will honor its seven seniors and one graduate student before the game. The seniors are linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, MA), offensive lineman James Carvill (Winchendon, MA), defensive back John Marine (Hudson Falls, NY), strong safety Anthony Verdile (East Longmeadow, MA), and defensive linemen Scott Hurlbut (Mecklenburg, NY), Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA), and Ryan Warme (Grand Island, NY). The graduate student is offensive lineman Joe DeMars (Springfield, MA).

Adams was selected to the weekly NEFC honor roll after compiling a career best 15 tackles against UMass-Dartmouth. He leads the conference with 86 tackles. Sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) is ninth in the conference with 530 yards (75.7 avg.) and six touchdowns.

Curry junior running back Raphael Zammit leads the NEFC with 1,013 yards rushing, all-purpose yards (184.4 avg.), and is second with 14 touchdowns. Sophomore linebacker Brian Robitaille leads the conference in tackles for losses (19) while senior place-kicker Bill Lovendale is second in the NEFC in punting (35.6 avg.) and field goals (6).

Former New England Patriots great Steve Nelson is in his fifth season as head coach of the Colonels.

Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002
UMass-Dartmouth 37, WNEC 3

UMASS-DARTMOUTH STAYS UNBEATEN WITH 37-3 WIN OVER WNEC

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 26, 2002) — Junior quarterback John Falcone (Norwood, MA) passed for one touchdown and ran for another score, and junior running back Shawn Theriault (Wakefield, MA) added two touchdowns, to lead undefeated University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth to a 37-3 victory over host Western New England College in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division contest at Golden Bears Stadium.

UMass-Dartmouth is now 8-0 for the best start in the program's 15-year history. The Corsairs also are undefeated in the NEFC with a 4-0 mark.

WNEC (1-6, 0-3) took a 3-0 lead on a 34-yard field goal by sophomore Loren Estabrook (Sharon, NH) at the 11:39 mark of the first quarter.

Falcone (13 carries, 111 yards) then ran 72 yards down the right sideline on an option play on the next play following the kickoff and the Corsairs never looked back.

Therriault scored on a pair of one-yard runs in the second quarter to give UMass-Dartmouth a 21-3 halftime advantage. The Corsairs upped their margin to 24-3 when senior Brian West (Raynham, MA) kicked a 34-yard field goal with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter.

UMass-Dartmouth scored twice in the final quarter on a four-yard pass from Falcone (9-for-22, 79 yards) to freshman tight end Joe Andenmotten (Great Barrington, MA) and a one-yard run by junior Steve Walters (Newton, MA).

UMass-Dartmouth outgained WNEC by a 316-181 margin and held the Golden Bears to minus three yards rushing on 30 attempts.

The Corsairs forced eight turnovers (four interceptions, four fumble recoveries) and had six sacks in the contest.

Sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) led the Golden Bears with 66 yards on 13 carries while junior quarterback Mike McCloskey (Wilbraham, MA) completed 9-of-18 passes for 135 yards off the bench.

WNEC senior linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, PA) had a career high 15 tackles with three stops for losses, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Freshman cornerback Jordan Jones (Springfield, MA) contributed an interception (43 yards), blocked punt, a fumble recovery, two pass breakups, and five tackles.

SENIOR TRI-CAPTAIN DOM SONDRINI HONORED AS THE WNEC MALE ATHLETE-OF-THE-WEEK

Mike Laroche gains spot (again) on weekly NEFC honor roll

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 22, 2002) — Football tri-captain Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA) was honored Tuesday as the Western New England College Male Athlete-of-the-Week.

Sondrini, a senior linebacker, had eight tackles (6 solo) with four stops for losses and three of the team's nine sacks in a 21-0 win at Framingham State College that was the Golden Bears first win of the season in six outings.

Sondrini also was named the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Defensive Player-of-the-Week. He is a Dean's List business management major.

In other news,

Western New England College sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) was named Monday (Oct. 21) to the weekly New England Football Conference honor roll for the third time this season.

Laroche had a career high 158 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 21-0 victory at Framingham State College that was the Golden Bears' first win of the season. He leads the Golden Bears with 464 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Laroche is a sport management major.

WNEC (1-5) hosts UMass-Dartmouth (7-0) on Saturday (Oct. 26).

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE HOSTS UMASS-DARTMOUTH SATURDAY

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 22, 2002) — Fresh off its first win of the season, Western New England College will host undefeated University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division game beginning at 1:00 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 26) during Family and Friends Weekend at Golden Bears Stadium.

WNEC has a 1-5 record (0-2 in the division) following a 21-0 victory at Framingham State College that was the team's first shutout in seven years. UMass-Dartmouth has a 7-0 record and leads the division with a 3-0 mark after rallying for a 36-26 win at upset-minded MIT.

"We have a tough test this week because UMass-Dartmouth is one of the top teams in the conference," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "Our players have a lot of confidence after winning so we're going to give it our best shot."

Western New England College senior linebacker Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA) was selected the NEFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week and WNEC Male Athlete-of-the-Week after compiling eight tackles (six solo) against Framingham State. He had four stops for losses of 32 yards and three of the team's nine sacks for 31 yards as the Golden Bears held the Rams to only 120 yards.

Sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) made the weekly NEFC honor roll for the third time this season after gaining a career high 158 yards with two touchdowns against Framingham State. He is now ninth in the conference in both rushing (464 yards) and scoring (36 points).

UMass-Dartmouth leads the NEFC in scoring (32.7) and turnover margin (+3.71) and is second in seven other categories, including total offense (388.7) and total defense (249.6).

Junior quarterback John Falcone leads the conference in passing efficiency with a 140.83 rating. He has completed 104-of-167 passes for 1,232 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior running back Shawn Theriault is third in the NEFC with 775 yards and eight touchdowns Ð he had 143 yards and two scores against MIT. The Corsairs have another top player in senior Brian West who leads the conference in punting (37.6 av.) and field goals (7).

This will be the sixth meeting between the schools with UMass-Dartmouth leading the series (which started in 1988) by a 5-0 margin. Last year the Corsairs posted a 54-21 win in Springfield.

Saturday, Oct. 19, 2002
WNEC 21, Framingham State 0

WNEC BLANKS FRAMINGHAM STATE, 21-0, FOR FIRST WIN OF SEASON

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (Oct. 19, 2002) — Sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) ran for a career high 158 yards on 27 carries, and scored two touchdowns on a pair of one-yard runs to lead visiting Western New England College to its first win of the season with a 21-0 victory over Framingham State College.

It was the Golden Bears' first shutout since a 6-0 win over Nichols College in 1995.

WNEC took a 7-0 lead on a 37-yard pass from junior quarterback Jeff Malayter (Cheshire, CT) to junior wide receiver Matt Sotherden (Pleasantville, NY) at the 6:01 mark of the first quarter. It was the first collegiate touchdown pass for Malayter (9-for-21, 127 yards) and first reception score for Sotherden who also serves as a backup quarterback.

Laroche then added his scoring runs in the second and third quarters to give him six touchdowns in his first season as a starter. He also rushed for over 100 yards for the second straight week.

Sophomore wide receiver Mark Kyer (Stratford, CT) had five receptions for 58 yards.

Western New England College compiled 312 yards for its best offensive showing of the season.

WNEC's defense held the Rams (1-5) to 120 yards as senior linebackers Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA) and Charles Adams (Reading, PA) each finished with eight tackles. Sondrini also had three of the team's nine sacks.

Junior free safety Mark Rumbutis (Utica, NY) and freshman defensive back Jordan Jones (Springfield, MA) each had an interception.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002
MIT 10, WNEC 0

MIT DEFEATS WNEC, 10-0, IN NEFC BOYD DIVISION MATCHUP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Freshman Matt Ramirez kicked a 24-yard field goal with 1.7 seconds left in the first half and senior defensive back Corey Carter scored on an 84-yard punt return with 12:21 remaining in the game to lead visiting MIT to a 10-0 victory over Western New England College in a New England Football Conference Boyd Division contest at rainy Golden Bears Stadium.

The Engineers evened their record at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the division. The Golden Bears remain winless at 0-5 and 0-2.

WNEC had excellent field possession throughout the first half, but turned the ball over twice in the second quarter on a fumble at the MIT 2 and interception in the end zone. The Golden Bears also missed a pair of field goals in the contest.

MIT senior quarterback Alex Karnal completed 11-of-27 passes for 158 yards, including a 34-yard toss to sophomore wide receiver Tom Kilpatrick (six receptions, 63 yards) that set up the field goal.

WNEC sophomore halfback Mike Laroche had a career and game-high 105 yards rushing on 31 carries. Junior Mike McCloskey and sophomore Jeff Malayter combined to complete only 5-of-28 passes for 50 yards with three interceptions and six sacks.

Western New England College senior strong safety Anthony Verdile played a solid game finishing with 10 tackles (6 solo stops), including two for losses. Senior linebacker Charles Adams had nine tackles and an interception. Senior cornerback John Marine also had an interception.

MIT out-gained WNEC by a 222 to 124 margin.

WNEC SUFFERS 20-14 OVERTIME LOSS AT SALVE REGINA

NEWPORT, R.I. (Oct. 5, 2002) — Hard-luck Western New England College fell to 0-4 after dropping a 20-14 overtime decision to Salve Regina University in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division opener for both teams Saturday night before 2,019 fans at Toppa Field.

WNEC had the ball first in overtime, but didn't score following a bad snap of a field goal attempt.

Salve Regina (1-3) then scored the winning touchdown on a two-yard run by quarterback Jason Seal.

WNEC trailed 7-0 after the first quarter before junior quarterback Mike McCloskey (9-for-17, 106 yards) tossed an 8-yard scoring pass to sophomore wide receiver Steve Ferko at the 8:29 mark of the second period. It was McCloskey's first scoring pass of the season.

Following another Seahawks score, the Golden Bears tied the contest when sophomore running back Mike Laroche (23 carries, 51 yards) scampered three yards for a score with 8:28 remaining in the contest.

Senior defensive end Scott Hurlbut finished with 13 tackles (10 solo) with three stops for losses and a sack. Senior linebacker Charles Adams also contributed 10 tackles and an interception. Sophomore cornerback Brad Estes had 10 stops and two pass breakups while junior linebacker Jeff Pinney added seven tackles and an interception.

Salve Regina out-gained WNEC by a 386-228 margin.

This was the second overtime game in WNEC history.

SOPHOMORE MIKE LAROCHE SELECTED AS THE WNEC MALE ATHLETE-OF-THE-WEEK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 24, 2002) — Football running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT — Berlin High School) was honored Tuesday as the Western New England College Male Athlete-of-the-Week.

Laroche, a sophomore, ran for a career high 82 yards on 13 carries (6.3 avg.) and scored two touchdowns on a pair of one-yard runs in a 26-25 loss against Fitchburgh State. He is a sport management major.

FITCHBURG STATE RALLIES FOR 26-25 WIN OVER WNEC

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 21, 2002) — Third-string freshman quarterback Allen Morais (Ashby, MA) came off the bench to toss a 66-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Carmy Cesaire, Jr. (Westminster, MA) with 1:20 remaining as visiting Fitchburg State College rallied for a wild 26-25 victory over Western New England College in a non-division New England Football Conference (NEFC) game.

This was the first football contest played at Western New England College's new Golden Bears Stadium before a Homecoming Weekend crowd of 2,150.

Morais, making his first appearance of the season, completed his winning toss on a third and 22 play to give the Falcons (1-2) their first win of the season.

WNEC (0-3) took an early 18-0 lead on a pair of one-yard runs by sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) and a seven-yard run by sophomore quarterback Jeff Malayter (Cheshire, CT) early in the second quarter. Laroche finished with a game-high 82 yards on 13 carries.

Fitchburg State finally scored when junior quarterback Devin Gates (Fitchburg, MA) hit senior wide receiver Trevor Wilson (Narragansett, RI) for an 18-yard score with 2:06 left before intermission. Following a WNEC punt, freshman cornerback Jordan Jones (Springfield, MA) intercepted a Gates pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown with 26 seconds remaining to give the Golden Bears a 25-7 halftime lead.

After that, it was all Fitchburg State.

Gates, filling in for starting freshman quarterback Mike Mowatt (Oxford, ME) who was injured when sacked on the first play of the second quarter, scored on runs of three and one yards to pull the Falcons within 25-20 with 4:21 left in the third quarter.

WNEC appeared to have the game in control when senior linebacker Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA) sacked Gates and recovered the ensuing fumble at the Golden Bears 47 with 2:32 left in the contest.

Fitchburg called three consecutive timeouts and forced WNEC to punt taking over at its own 27-yard line with 2:02 left.

Morais then entered the game the game and completed his first pass for four yards before a key WNEC penalty gave the Falcons a first down at their 46. Morais was sacked for 12 yards and threw an incomplete pass before finding Cesaire streaking down the left sideline for the winning play. Cesaire finished with three receptions for 80 yards.

Western New England out-gained Fitchburg State by a slim 221-215 margin.

WESTFIELD STATE BLANKS WNEC IN PRESIDENT'S CUP, 30-0

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 14, 2002) — Junior quarterback Chris Lapointe (Millers Falls, MA) passed for 113 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore halfback Don Jones (Springfield, MA Ð Central High School) ran for a game high 118 yards as Westfield State College opened its season with an easy 30-0 shutout victory over Western New England College in the President's Cup contest played at AIC's John Homer Miller Field.

The Owls, ranked first in the nation last year in total defense (188 yards), held the Golden Bears (0-2) to 26 yards on 48 plays, including a minus 23 yards rushing on 30 attempts.

Westfield State led 10-0 at half-time following a 16 yard scoring pass from Lapointe to junior wide receiver Matt Yvon (East Longmeadow, MA) at the 10:07 mark of the first quarter, and a 28 yard field goal by senior Ryan Clifford (Waltham, MA) with 4:31 remaining before intermission. Yvon finished with six catches for 92 yards.

The Owls scored twice in the third quarter on a one yard pass from Lapointe to Jones and a one yard run by junior fullback Tom Walsh (Weymouth, MA). Freshman running back Jose Molina (South Easton, MA) scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 19 yard run in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring. He gained 76 yards on 11 carries.

Westfield State, the defending New England Football Conference champions, finished with 324 yards.

WNEC had only two first downs in the game and had the ball in Westfield State territory once twice.

The Golden Bears' only scoring opportunity came in the first period following an Owls turnover at their 35. Three plays later senior All America linebacker Josue Zamora (Hartford, CT) intercepted a pass at the Westfield 20 and returned it 45 yards to end the threat. Zamora finished with seven tackles with four stops for losses and one sack.

Western New England College senior strong safety Anthony Verdile (East Longmeadow, MA) had a 38 yard interception. Junior free safety Mark Rumbutis (Utica, NY) had 13 tackles while senior linebacker Dom Sondrini (Dalton, MA) contributed 10 stops and a sack.

Westfield State, which finished with a school record 10-1 record last year, has now won 11 straight regular season games.

WNEC FALLS TO MOUNT IDA IN SEASON OPENER, 32-14

NEWTON, Mass. (Sept. 7, 2002) — Sophomore running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) accounted for both Western New England College touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as Golden Bears dropped a 32-14 decision to host Mount Ida College in the season opener for both teams.

Mount Ida led 14-0 after the first quarter before Laroche tossed a 19-yard scoring pass on a tailback option play to sophomore wide receiver Steve Ferko (Phoenixville, PA) with 7:20 left before halftime. The Mustangs upped their advantage to 26-7 in the third quarter. Laroche (66 yards, 20 carries) ran four yards for a touchdown with 12:05 left in the contest, but the Golden Bears didn't get any closer.

Junior quarterback Mike McCloskey (Wilbraham, MA) completed 8-of-19 passes for 70 yards with one interception in his WNEC debut.

Mount Ida out-gained Western New England by a 412 to 239 margin. Freshman quarterback P.J. Matthews (Baltimore, MD) was 11-of-13 passing for 169 yards and two TDs. He added another 94 yards rushing and one touchdown on 16 carries for the Mustangs.

GOLDEN BEARS AIM FOR WINNING SEASON IN 2002

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Can Western New England College find a replacement for Marvin Langley?

That's the BIG question facing the Golden Bears as they prepare for the 2002 season.

WNEC hopes to improve on last year's 3-5 record with 18 returning starters, but will be without the herald Langley who ran for a school record 3,401 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 5,053 all-purpose yards during his sensational career.

Two other big losses are defensive backs Lester Johnson (school record 12 interceptions) and Brian Luce (11 interceptions). Luce also ranked among the top kickoff returners in the nation last year.

"We lost Marvin and several other talented players, but another strong recruiting class gives us the best depth we've ever had during my twelve years here," says coach Gerry Martin. "We have great leadership with our captains who conducted an extensive off season conditioning program, and we have a number of exceptional transfers ready to step in and contribute right away."

WNEC started the 2001 campaign with five straight losses before ending the year with three consecutive victories. The Golden Bears scored 121 points in the wins, including a school record 57 points against Framingham State.

Western New England hopes to build on that momentum with senior captains, defensive back John Marine (41 tackles), defensive lineman Scott Hurlbut (28 tackles), and linebacker Dom Sondrini (23 tackles), heading the list of 40 returning letterwinners.

A key performer down the stretch last year was tailback/quarterback Kyle Lezette who ran for 187 yards and a touchdown while throwing for two other scores in his rookie season. Lezette, who was among 14 players who started at least three games on offense, is expected to see action at running back. He will be joined by sophomores Mike Laroche and Neil Connery.

The quarterback position is open with sophomore Steve Ferko and junior Matt Sotherden the leading candidates. Ferko was the 2001 starter until an injury sidelined him for the final four games. Sophomore transfer Mike McCloskey and freshman Curtis Stillman will challenge for the starting assignment.

The offensive line looks strong with several experienced players led by sophomores Jeremy Golec, Andy Therriault, and Derek Folsom. Sophomore tight ends Andrew Zell and Greg Clarke, and wide receivers Brett Hanson and Stephen Johnson are capable performers.

On defense, the Golden Bears will be bolstered by he return of junior cornerback Brad Estes who missed the 2001 season with an injury. Senior Anthony Verdile and junior Mark Rumbutis have the edge at the safeties positions. Junior Jeff Pinney should do well at a linebacker position while graduate student Joe DeMars and senior James Carvill head the group of defensive linemen. Juniors Paul Delanoy and John Piascik also will see playing time.

Western New England College has two talented performers in junior punter Mike Lynch (34.9 avg.) and sophomore place-kicker Loren Estabrook (20-for-21 PATs).

MARVIN LANGLEY SELECTED AS THE WNEC COCA-COLA MALE ATHLETE-OF-THE-YEAR

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 16, 2002) — Senior football standout Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME — Lewiston High School) was named the Western New England College Coca-Cola Male Athlets-of-the-Week at the school's Spring Sports Banquet May 4.

Langley led the New England Football Conference (NEFC) in all-purpose yards (189.3 avg.) and was second in rushing (136.8) after gaining 1,094 yards in eight games with 12 touchdowns. His 72 points tied for first in the conference (9.0). A team captain, Langley had five 100-yard games in breaking the 1,000-yard mark for third straight season. He was a two-time NEFC All-Star selection. Langley, a computer information systems major, ended his sensational career with 3,401 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns (both school records).

This spring, Langley played lacrosse for the first time and was a member of the Golden Bears' squad that posted a 12-5 record for the second highest win total in the program's history. WNEC also captured the Pilgrim League Tournament title and participated in the first NCAA Division III Championship. Langley, a midfielder, had three assists during the season.

SENIOR QUARTERBACK DEREK BOYD RECIPIENT OF INAUGURAL JIMMY GEYER AWARD

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Dec. 10, 2001) — Western New England College senior football quarterback Derek Boyd (Georgetown, MA — Georgetown High School) received the inaugural Jimmy Geyer Award for leadership and courage at the school's Fall Sports Banquet on December 1.

The award is named in honor of former WNEC wide receiver Jimmy Geyer, Class of 1982, who was killed in the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center on September 11. Geyer, who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, played football for four years and was a member of the school's first NCAA Division III team in 1981.

Boyd battled back from an enzyme deficiency that had the potential to cause kidney failure and heat stroke to play the last three games of the 2001 season after starting the year as a student assistant coach.

The former Georgetown High School standout first showed symptoms of the illness in 2000 when he developed cramps in the season opener against Westfield State College. He played in only two games the entire season before learning of his illness.

This past summer, Boyd joined the Golden Bears coaching staff as the quarterbacks coach. In mid-October, he received medical clearance to play football on a limited basis.

WNEC was 0-5 when Boyd made his first appearance on October 20 in the Senior Day contest against Framingham State College. He completed only one-of-four passes, but it was a 23-yard touchdown toss to freshman split end Stephen Johnson that helped the team to a 57-21 victory. The 57 points was a school record.

Western New England College raised $1,500 that afternoon for the Geyer Family.

Boyd, a criminal justice major, completed 3-of-7 passes for 74 yards the following week in a 28-21 road win over MIT. In the final game of his career, Boyd completed 5-of-10 passes for 128 yards, including a 38-yard scoring pass to one of his best friends, senior wide receiver Jody Lemoi. The Golden Bears came away with a 36-15 victory to finish with a three-game winning streak and 3-5 record.

"Derek's comeback was nothing short of miraculous," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "When he came back as a coach, we were extremely happy to have him back on the sidelines. Derek worked hard and became one of our better coaches."

At the banquet, Philip and JoAnn Geyer (the parents of Jimmy Geyer) helped present Boyd with his award.

While at Georgetown High School, Boyd served as a team captain in football and was both a Commonwealth Athletic Conference and All-State selection. He also lettered in baseball and basketball.

WNEC'S MARVIN LANGLEY NAMED TO NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS II/III ALL-STAR TEAM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 20, 2001) — Western New England College senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME — Lewiston High School) was named to the 2001 New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star Team on Tuesday (Nov. 20).

Langley, a computer information systems major, was a repeat selection to the honor squad. This fall, Langley made the New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Star First Team for the second consecutive year after leading the conference in all-purpose yards (189.3 yards per game that was eighth nationally). He finished second in the conference in rushing (136.8 that tied for ninth nationally) after gaining 1,094 yards in eight games with 12 touchdowns. His 72 points tied for first in the conference (9.0 avg.).

A team captain, Langley had five 100-yard games with a season best performance of 261 yards against MIT that was the eighth best performance of the season among NCAA Division III players.

Langley ended his sensational career with 3,401 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns. Langley was the 2000 NEFC Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Year.

BRIAN LUCE OF WNEC NAMED TO VERIZON ACADEMIC DISTRICT 1 FOOTBALL TEAM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 20, 2001) — Western New England College senior strong safety Brian Luce (Anson, ME — Madison Memorial High School) has been named to the 2001 Verizon Academic District 1 Football Team for the second straight year.

Luce, a team captain, has a 3.49 cumulative grade-point-average in electrical engineering. This fall, he tied for second on the team with 59 tackles (33 unassisted), including eight for losses, with two interceptions. Luce also tied for fifth nationally among NCAA Division III players with a 28.8 kickoff return average.

Luce is now a candidate for the Verizon Academic All-America Football Team that will be announced on Monday, December 10.

MARVIN LANGLEY AND BRIAN LUCE AMONG NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEADERS

Jody Lemoi makes Who's Who List

NATIONAL LEADERS
Western New England College senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME) was nationally ranked in four NCAA Division III statistical categories. He was eighth in all-purpose yards (189.3 yards per game avg.), tied for ninth in rushing (136.8), and tied for 29th in scoring (9.0). Langley had the eighth best rushing performance in the nation with 261 yards against MIT. He ran for 1,094 yards this season with 12 touchdowns in eight games. Langley, a member of the New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Star First Team, finished his career with 3,401 yards and 41 touchdowns. Senior strong safety Brian Luce (Anson, ME) tied for fifth nationally in kickoff returns (28.8 avg.). WNEC's school record 543 yards rushing against Framingham State was the fifth best performance among NCAA Division III schools this fall.

WHO'S WHO AMONG STUDENTS
Senior split end Jody Lemoi (Scituate, RI) was among 32 Western New England College students selected to the 2002 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Lemoi and his classmates were honored at a banquet on campus on November 17.

WNEC'S MARVIN LANGLEY AND CHARLES ADAMS SELECTED TO NEFC ALL-STAR TEAM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 13, 2001) — Western New England College senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME — Lewiston High School) and junior linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, PA — Wilson High School) were named to the 2001 New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Star Team on Tuesday (Nov. 13).

Langley, a computer information systems major, made the NEFC All-Star First Team for the second consecutive year after leading the conference in all-purpose yards (189.3 yards per game). He finished second in rushing (136.8) after gaining 1,094 yards in eight games with 12 touchdowns. His 72 points tied for first in the conference (9.0 avg.). A team captain, Langley had five 100-yard games with a season best performance of 261 yards against MIT. He ended his sensational career with 3,401 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns. Langley was the 2000 NEFC Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Year.

Adams, a computer science major, was voted to the NEFC All-Star Second Team after compiling a team high 76 tackles (9.5 avg.) that was seventh in the conference. He also recorded 37 unassisted tackles and had 11.5 tackles for losses (eighth in the conference) along with two fumble recoveries.

In other NEFC news, Although he wasn't selected to the NEFC All-Star Team, senior strong safety and kick returner Brian Luce (Anson, ME — Madison Memorial High School) enjoyed another great season. He tied for second on the squad with 59 tackles and had two interceptions. Luce, a team captain, also was second in the NEFC in kickoff returns (28.8 avg. for eight returns).

Freshman punter Mike Lynch (Yorktown, NY — Yorktown High School) finished third in the NEFC with a 34.9 average for 56 kicks with a career best 61-yarder against Nichols College.

Freshman Loren Estabrook (Sharon, NH — Conval High School) tied for seventh among NEFC place-kickers with 20 points. Estabrook missed his first PAT in the season-opener against Westfield State College, and then made 20 consecutive kicks.

Western New England College posted a 3-5 record this fall after winning its last three contests of the season.

SENIOR BRIAN LUCE SELECTED AS THE WNEC ATHLETE-OF-THE-WEEK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 6, 2001) — Senior football captain Brian Luce (Anson, ME — Madison Memorial High School) was honored Tuesday (Nov. 6) as the Western New England College Male Athlete-of-the-Week. He also was named to the New England Football Conference (NEFC) weekly honor roll.

Luce, a strong safety, ended his outstanding career by scoring two touchdowns on an 82-yard kickoff return in the third quarter and a school record 80-yard interception return in the fourth quarter in a 36-15 win at Fitchburg State College on November 3.

Earlier this season, he had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against UMass-Dartmouth.

Luce, an electrical engineering major, tied for second on the squad with 59 tackles this fall. He is a candidate for the prestigious Verizon Academic All-America team. WNEC (3-5) won its last three games of the season.

BRIAN LUCE LEADS WNEC OVER FITCHBURG STATE, 36-15

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 3, 2001) — Senior strong safety Brian Luce scored a pair of touchdowns on an 82-yard kickoff return and an 80-yard interception return in his final game as visiting Western New England College ended its season with its third consecutive victory following a 36-15 win over Fitchburg State College in a non-division New England Football Conference game.

Luce also forced a safety in the contest and added three tackles.

The Golden Bears finished with a 3-5 record after outscoring their opponents 121 to 57 the last three weeks.

Fitchburg State (2-7) held senior running back Marvin Langley to only 29 yards on 25 carries, but quarterbacks Derek Boyd and Kyle Lezette picked up the slack by combining to complete 8-of-14 passes for a season 196 yards and three touchdowns.

Boyd (5-for-10, 128 yards), a senior, tossed a 38-yard scoring pass to senior split end Jody Lemoi (4 catches, 81 yards) that gave the Golden Bears an 8-7 halftime lead.

Lezette (3-for-4, 68 yards), a freshman, fired scoring passes of three yards to senior running back Sean Ring in the third quarter and 47 yards to senior split end Justin Clark in the fourth quarter.

Senior fullback Tim Dubay had a 38-yard pass reception.

WNEC CLAIMS 28-21 WIN OVER MIT FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WIN

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Oct. 27, 2001) — Senior running back Marvin Langley ran for 261 yards on 43 carries and scored four touchdowns, including the game-winner on a four-yard score with 1:06 remaining, as Western New England College defeated MIT, 28-21, in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division game at Steinbrenner Stadium.

The Golden Bears have two straight contests and are now 2-5 and 1-4 in the division. MIT ends its season at 1-8 (0-5).

Langley's winning touchdown was set up when sophomore defensive end John Piascik intercepted a Phil Deutsch screen pass at the MIT 40 and returned it to the four.

The Engineers had a chance to tie the game marching from their own 20 to the WNEC 3, but junior cornerback John Marine (nine tackles) intercepted another Deutsch pass in the end zone with 14 seconds left to preserve the victory.

Langley's other scores of 25, 3, and 26 yards gave the Golden Bears a 21-7 halftime lead before MIT tied the contest with two touchdowns in the third quarter.

Langley has 516 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in his last two games, and 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. For his career, he has 3,372 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns.

MIT finished with 379 yards while WNEC had 375.

The Golden Bears had no turnovers in the game for the first time this season.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE ROLLS TO 57-21 WIN OVER FRAMINGHAM STATE COLLEGE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 20, 2001) — Senior running back Marvin Langley rushed for 255 yards on 25 carries and four touchdowns, and freshman Kyle Lezette added 140 yards on 13 carries and one score in his first start at quarterback, as Western New England College won its first game of the season with a record-breaking 57-21 victory over visiting Framingham State College before 2,875 fans during Family and Friends Weekend.

The Golden Bears are now 1-5 after snapping a seven-game losing streak over two seasons. The Rams fall to 1-6.

WNEC, which had scored only 47 points entering the contest, set a school mark with its 57-point total, breaking the old mark of 53 set against Boston State (now UMass-Boston) in 1981.

Langley scored on an 85-yard run on the first play of the game before the Rams came back when senior quarterback Abe Bascon scored on a one-yard run at the 6:39 mark of the period. The extra point attempt was no good after it hit the left crossbar and bounced away.

Langley then scored the game's next two touchdowns on runs of 7 and 20 yards to give the Golden Bears a 22-6 advantage with 13:45 remaining in the second quarter. He later added a 12-yard run in the third quarter for his eighth touchdown of the season. His four touchdowns tied the school record he set last year against Framingham State.

Lezette, who has played defensive back and split end this season, ran 77 yards for a touchdown with 2:32 left in the second quarter to gave WNEC a 29-12 halftime lead.

Freshman place-kicker Loren Estabrook set another school mark with seven extra-point conversions.

Three players scored their first collegiate touchdowns in the fourth quarter, senior fullback Tim Dubay (Longmeadow, MA) on a one-yard run, senior running back Sean Ring (Windsor, CT) on a 50-yard run, and freshman wide receiver Stephen Johnson (North Easton, MA) who caught a 23-yard pass from senior quarterback Derek Boyd (Georgetown, MA).

Ring finished with 61 yards on five carries while Dubay gained 50 yards on three attempts with a career best 46-yard gain that set up his touchdown.

WNEC set school records with 576 yards (breaking the old mark of 526 set against Boston State in 1981) and rushing yards with 543 (breaking the old mark of 358 set against Nichols in 1981).

Bascon had a busy afternoon completing 14-of-40 yards for 135 yards and one score, and rushing for 94 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. He also returned four kickoffs for 70 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Ray Brady caught eight passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman backup quarterback Chris Reale was 4-of-7 passing for 57 yards and one touchdown. Framingham State ran 84 plays, finishing with 378 yards.

UMASS-DARTMOUTH OVERPOWERS WNEC 54-21

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 13, 2001) — Sophomore quarterback John Falcone completed 8-of-17 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns to lead visiting UMass-Dartmouth to an easy 54-21 win over Western New England College in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division game.

The Corsairs improved their record to 4-2 (2-1 in the NEFC) while the Golden Bears remain winless at 0-5 (0-4 NEFC).

UMass-Dartmouth took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when freshman linebacker Grant Hajder ran two yards for a score on an interception at the 7:05 mark. The Corsairs upped their margin to 20-0 following a pair of field goals by senior Jacob Jata (32, 39 yards) and a 62-yard pass from Falcone to sophomore Matt O'Day with 7:20 left in the second quarter.

WNEC scored its first points of the contest following a 30-yard interception return by senior linebacker Chris Grundman with 4:27 left before halftime.

The Corsairs came right back to take a 27-7 lead when Falcone hit sophomore tight end Steve Francis for a four-yard score with 20 seconds remaining in the quarter. Francis also caught an eight-yard scoring pass from backup sophomore Val Teixeira early in the fourth quarter.

WNEC scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half on a 52-yard run by senior tailback Marvin Langley (21 carries, 116 yards) in the third quarter and a 90-yard kickoff return by senior strong safety Brian Luce (the second longest in school history) in the fourth quarter.

UMass-Dartmouth senior running back Shane Harris rushed for 99 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore running back Eric Gaccione added 82 yards and a touchdown, all in the fourth quarter.

UMass-Dartmouth outgained Western New England by a 437 to 130 margin and held the Golden Bears to only three first downs.

Before the game there was a moment of silence for former WNEC wide receiver Jim Geyer, Class of 1982, who was killed in the terrorist attack of the World Trade Center on September 11.

CURRY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF WNEC MISTAKES FOR 22-13 VICTORY

MILTON, Mass. (Oct. 6, 2001) — Curry College scored a pair of touchdowns in the first six minutes of the game following a pair of Western New England miscues and went on to claim a 22-13 victory in a NEFC Boyd Division game.

WNEC (0-4, 0-3 NEFC Boyd) fumbled the game's opening kickoff, leading to a 20-yard scoring pass from Colonels' quarterback Steve Santos to wide receiver Jeff Lang.

On the visitors' next possession, junior Gareth Watts blocked a Mike Lynch punt in the end zone and fell on the ball for a touchdown.

Curry (5-1, 3-1) was then shut out by the Golden Bears' defense until the fourth quarter when freshman fullback Curtis Upshaw ran for a 3-yard score.

WNEC had gotten on the board early in the third quarter on a 37-yard scamper by senior running back Marvin Langley (24 carries, 89 yards).

With the score 22-7 late in the fourth quarter, Santos fumbled twice deep in WNEC territory, the second turnover leading to a 5-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Matt Sotherden with 39 seconds remaining in the game.

WNEC's defense was outstanding limiting the highly-regarded Curry attack to only 167 yards (156 below its average of 323.6 that ranked fourth in the NEFC). Curry also came into the game averaging 30.6 points (second in the NEFC).

Junior linebacker Charles Adams led the Golden Bears with eight tackles, including three for losses, a sack, and a fumble recovery.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND LOOKS FOR IMPROVEMENT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 25, 2001) — Western New England College's football team has the week off before resuming New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division action at Curry College on Saturday, October 6 in Milton.

Western New England has a 0-3 record (0-2 in the division) following a 12-0 loss against unbeaten Salve Regina University on September 22 during Homecoming Weekend. The day had a bright ending when approximately $2,000 in donations was collected for the American Red Cross in its relief efforts in New York and Washington.

"Our defense played a great game against Salve Regina," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "We held them below their averages for points and yards, but we allowed two long punts on special teams that hurt us. Plus, we couldn't score twice inside the 10."

In the latest NEFC statistics, Western New England College senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME — Lewiston High School) is second in all-purpose yards (189.7 yards per game), third in rushing (114.7), and fourth in kickoff return (22.0).

Sophomore Mike Lynch (Yorktown, NY — Yorktown High School) leads the NEFC in punting with a 37.0 average for 23 kicks.

Junior linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, PA — Wilson High School) and senior free safety Lester Johnson (Springfield, MA — Central High School) are one-two in the conference in tackles with 37 and 36, respectively.

The Golden Bears, however, are last in the NEFC in scoring with only two touchdowns, both coming in the season opener at Westfield State College. That statistic concerns Martin and his staff.

"We're not giving up by any stretch of the imagination, but we are re-thinking our offensive game plan," Martin stated.

"We have to get the ball into Marvin Langley's hands more often plus our younger players have to get better quicker. I saw some improvement against Salve Regina and there are several games left to play, so I feel optimistic that we're heading in the right direction."

WNEC is fifth among the 13 schools in the NEFC in pass efficiency defense (95.18 rating) and sixth in scoring defense (20.7).

SALVE REGINA SPOILS WNEC HOMECOMING, 12-0

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Despite an outstanding effort by its defense, Western New England College lost its home opener Saturday (Sept. 22) against Salve Regina University, 12-0, during Homecoming Weekend.

The Golden Bears fell to 0-3 (0-2 NEFC Boyd Divison) after suffering their second straight shutout.

After a scoreless first quarter, Salve Regina (3-0, 2-0 NEFC Boyd) scored on a 16-yard run by Joe Papalia on fourth and one with 6:10 remaining in the second period.

Western New England advanced to the Salve Regina 15 on its first possession of the third quarter, but failed to score.

The game remained close until Ron Casper gave the Seahawks insurance points after a 49-yard punt return for a score at the 8:03 mark of the fourth quarter.

WNEC senior running back Marvin Langley (24 carries, 79 yards) returned the following kickoff 67 yards to the visitors 31. The Golden Bears drove to the Seahawks four-yard line with just over three minutes remaining, but couldn't score.

Western New England has an open date on September 29 and returns to action with a NEFC Boyd Division against Curry College starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 6, in Milton, Massachusetts.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE HOSTS SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY IN HOMECOMING CONTEST SATURDAY

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — After dropping its first two games of the season on the road, Western New England College looks forward to making a successful home opener against Salve Regina University in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division contest that begins at 1 p.m. at WNEC Field.

Tickets for the Homecoming contest are $4 for adults, and $2 for senior citizens over 60 and children under 12.

All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to assist in the relief efforts in New York and Washington.

Western New England fell to 0-2 (0-1 NEFC Boyd) after losing at Nichols College (30-0) last Saturday. Salve Regina has a 2-0 record (1-0 NEFC Boyd) after home victories over the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (17-14) and MIT (32-13).

"The Nichols game was extremely disheartened for us because it was one of the worst games we have played in a long time," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "Fumbles really hurt us and our defense was on the field for a long time, so we have some things to fix.

"Salve Regina is a strong team with a lot of talented players. We're not out of things yet, but we do have to play up to our capabilities. All of us are looking forward to playing at home and I expect we will see a different team out there on Saturday," Martin stated.

WNEC's top player is senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME) who in second in the NEFC with 265 yards on 27 carries (9.8 avg.) and three touchdowns. He also is second in the conference in all-purpose yards (202.5 avg.). Langley ran for 115 yards against Nichols for his second straight 100-yard game to earn a repeat spot on the weekly NEFC honor roll.

Sophomores Steve Ferko (Phoenixville, PA) and Matt Sotherden (Pleasantville, NY) have split playing time at quarterback and are expected to do the same against Salve Regina.

Junior linebacker Jeff Pinney (Westfield, MA) leads the defense with 24 tackles (which is third in the conference) while senior strong safety Brian Luce (Anson, ME) and junior linebacker Charles Adams (Reading, PA) each have 22 stops.

Sophomore Mike Lynch (Yorktown, NY) leads the NEFC in punting with a 38.9 average for 15 kicks.

Salve Regina relies mainly on a running attack led by senior fullback Joe Papalia who has a team high 207 yards on 50 carries (4.1 avg.). He ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns against MIT.

Junior running backs Matt Minicucci and Spencer Ingram have 120 and 116 yards, respectively, along with one touchdown apiece. Freshman quarterback Jason Seal has completed only 6-of-12 passes for 45 yards and one score. He is a transfer from Division I-AA Sacred Heart University.

The Seahawks have a trio of top defensive players in sophomore linebacker Brian Galvin who has 19 tackles, senior defensive back Tom Slocum, 17 tackles, and freshman linebacker Phil Cangiolosi, 17 tackles. Also on the squad is freshman linebacker Nicholas Bonavita (Westfield, MA).

Salve Regina leads the series by an 8-0 margin after defeating Western New England (17-14) last year in Newport, Rhode Island.

SRU posted a 7-3 record last year, captured the NEFC Boyd Division title, and lost to Bridgewater State College (27-24) in the 2000 NEFC Championship game.

WNEC SUFFERS 30-0 LOSS AT NICHOLS COLLEGE IN NEFC BOYD DIVISION OPENER

DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 15, 2001) — Western New England College dropped a 30-0 decision at Nichols College in its New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division opener Saturday. The Golden Bears are 0-2 this season.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL TEAM OPENS NEFC BOYD DIVISION SLATE AT NICHOLS COLLEGE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 11, 2001) — Western New England College hopes to get back on the winning track against Nichols College in its New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division opener that begins at 1 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 15) at the Bison Bowl in Dudley, Massachusetts.

WNEC has a 0-1 record after dropping a 20-13 decision at Westfield State College last Friday (Sept. 7) night. Nichols has a 0-2 mark following non-division losses against Worcester State College (31-15) and defending NEFC champion Bridgewater State College (38-22).

"This is a big game for us because it is the division opener for both teams," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "Nichols always gives us a tough test, so we're expecting a hard-fought contest."

WNEC gained only 201 yards against Westfield despite a record-breaking performance by senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME) who ran for 155 yards on 12 carries while scoring both the Golden Bears touchdowns on runs of 69 and 84 yards (second best in school history). He became the program's leading rusher with 2,462 yards, breaking the old mark of 2,379 yards set by former teammate Andy Kaneris from 1994-98. Langley also was named to the weekly NEFC honor roll.

On defense, Western New England will look for another solid performance from junior linebacker Jeff Pinney (Westfield, MA) who came off the bench to compile 10 tackles against his hometown rivals.

"We have a young squad, especially on the offensive line, but as we get more seasoned, we will become a better team," Martin stated.

Directing the Nichols attack is senior quarterback Jarrod Rouanzoin who has passed for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Senior halfback Nick Parker has a team high 134 yards rushing and one score. Seven players have caught passes with junior wide receiver Nick Perron leading the way with seven receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns.

This will be the 18th meeting between the teams with Nichols holding an 11-6 advantage in the series that started in 1981. Last year the Bison posted a 19-13 victory at WNEC Field after Rouanzoin tossed a 34-yard scoring pass to Adam Perry in the final quarter.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND DROPS SEASON OPENER AT WESTFIELD STATE, 20-13

WESTFIELD, Mass. — Western New England College dropped its season opener at Westfield State College Friday (Sept. 7) by the score of 20-13.

Senior running back Marvin Langley ran for 155 yards on 12 carries, and became the school's all-time leading rusher with 2,462 yards. He also scored both the Golden Bears' touchdowns on runs of 69 and 84 yards.

Langley moved ahead of former teammate Andy Kaneris who ran for 2,379 yards from 1994-98.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL TEAM OPENS SEASON FRIDAY AT WESTFIELD STATE COLLEGE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Western New England College will open its 32nd football season at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, against Westfield State College at Alumni Field in Westfield in the 12th edition of the President's Cup Game. The Golden Bears have won the last two meetings and lead the series by a 6-5 margin.

"After three weeks of practice, weÕre excited and nervous about playing our first game," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "Westfield State has a much improved squad from last year and they will provide a tough test. The new talent on their team poses a big threat to everyone in the conference."

Western New England is anxious to start the new campaign on a winning note following last year's disappointing 4-5 season. The Golden Bears lost three contests by a total of 10 points and dropped their final two games that were both played at home.

WNEC established a school record for total offense last year (2,748 yards) thanks primarily to senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME) who was the 2000 New England Football Conference (NEFC) Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Year.

Langley set or tied 12 school records and led the conference in rushing (1,253 yards), all-purpose yards (193.9 avg.), and scoring (114 points). He is third on the school's all-time rushing list with 2,307 yards and needs only 73 yards to become the program's top runner.

Last year Langley ran for 237 yards and three touchdowns in a 26-6 win over Westfield State.

Sophomore Steve Ferko (Phoenixville, PA) is expected to start at quarterback following a strong pre-season and solid performance in a scrimmage against Mount Ida College last Saturday (Sept. 1). Classmate Matt Sotherden (Pleasantville, NY) might also see playing time against the Owls. Sotherden started eight contests as a rookie passing for 960 yards and five touchdowns, but injured his ankle on the last play of a team scrimmage on August 25 and returned to practice this past Monday (Sept. 3).

"Steve and Matt give us two quality quarterbacks who both have the potential to become outstanding players," stated Martin who is in his 11th season.

Martin also will count on senior captains Lester Johnson (Springfield, MA) at cornerback, Jody Lemoi (Scituate, RI) at wide receiver, Brian Luce (Anson, ME) at free safety, and Langley to provide leadership, especially since there will be several new faces on both sides of the ball.

"We have a strong defensive unit and our offense should score more points than last year," said Lemoi.

Westfield State returns nine starters from last year's 3-6 team led by NEFC All-Star senior defensive end Tim Corr (Duxbury, MA) who has compiled 143 tackles and 17 sacks the past two seasons. Two players to watch on offense are senior running back Shawn Lyman (West Springfield, MA) who rushed for 683 yards and six touchdowns last fall, and sophomore wide receiver Matt Yvon (East Longmeadow, MA) who had 22 receptions for 405 yards, and four touchdowns. Twelfth-year coach Steve Marino, a former assistant at WNEC (1987), also had a strong recruiting class, which gives his team high hopes for a winning season.

MARVIN LANGLEY NAMED TO PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICA FOOTBALL TEAMS

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Western New England College senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME) has been named to both the 2001 d3football.com and Don Hansen's Weekly Football Gazette Pre-Season All-America Teams.

"Marvin is the hardest working player on our squad," said WNEC coach Gerry Martin. "He has improved every year because of his work ethic and dedication. We expect him to lead the Golden Bears on and off the field this season."

The 5'10", 180-lb. Langley was voted the 2000 New England Football Conference (NEFC) Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Year after leading the conference in rushing (1,253 yards, 139.2 yards per game average), all-purpose yards (193.9 yards per game average), and scoring (114 points). He also was selected to both the ECAC Division III Northeast and New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star Teams after establishing 12 school records.

Langley, a computer information systems major, tied for fifth nationally among Division III players in scoring average (12.7 points per game) and was seventh in all-purpose yards. He scored 19 of the team's 28 touchdowns (17 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 kickoff return) and also completed a pass for another score.

Entering the 2001 season, Langley is the school's third all-time leading runner with 2,307 yards. He needs only 73 yards to become the top rusher in school history.

Langley will serve as a team captain this fall with classmates, defensive back Lester Johnson (Springfield, MA — Central High School), wide receiver Jody Lemoi (Scituate, RI), and free safety Brian Luce (Anson, ME).

Western New England College opens its 32nd season at 7 p.m. Friday, September 7, at Westfield State College. Last year the Golden Bears posted a 4-5 record and finished sixth in the NEFC Boyd Division with a 2-4 mark.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE HOPES TO CHALLENGE FOR NEFC TITLE IN 2001

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (July 27, 2001) — With 17 returning starters and a promising group of newcomers, Western New England College hopes to challenge for the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division title this fall.

WNEC posted a disappointing 4-5 record last year after dropping its final two games of the season. The Golden Bears finished sixth in the division with a 2-4 mark.

"Our goal this season is to play in the NEFC championship game," said Western New England College coach Gerry Martin. "We have several outstanding returning players and the best recruiting class we've had in quite some time. Everyone on the team feels we now have the talent to compete against anyone in our conference.'

Heading the list of returnees is senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, ME) who was named to the 2001 d3football.com Pre-Season All-America Team. Last year, Langley was voted the NEFC Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Year after leading the conference in rushing (1,253 yards, 139.2 yards per game average), all-purpose yards (193.9 yards per game average), and scoring (114 points). He also was selected to both the ECAC Division III Northeast and New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star Teams after establishing or tying 12 school records.

Langley tied for fifth nationally among Division III players in scoring average (12.7 points per game) and was seventh in all-purpose yards. He scored 19 of the team's 28 touchdowns (17 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 kickoff return) and also completed a pass for another score. Langley, the school's third all-time leading runner with 2,307 yards, needs only 73 yards to become the Golden Bears' top rusher.

Among the other returning starters on offense are sophomore quarterback Matt Sotherden (Pleasantville, NY), senior split ends Justin Clark (Ipswich, MA) and Jody Lemoi (Scituate, RI), and senior guard Dave Kapusta (Naugatuck, CT).

Sotherden enjoyed a solid rookie season completing 74-of-139 passes (school record 53.2%) for 960 yards and five touchdowns with nine interceptions. He ranked fourth in the conference in pass efficiency with a school record 110.17 rating. Sotherden also tossed the longest scoring pass in school history, 79 yards to Langley in the final game of the season against Fitchburg State College.

NEFC All-Star tackle Dave Roach (Middlebury, CT) and guard Adam Hill (Gardiner, ME) graduated leaving two important spots open on the offensive line. Junior tackles James Carvill (Winchendon, MA) and Wayne Demers (Easthampton, MA) are two experienced players to watch. Sophomore Steve Doughty (East Hartford, CT) will challenge for the starting center job.

Western New England should have an improved defensive unit with seniors Joe Demars (Springfield, MA — Cathedral High School) at tackle, Lester Johnson (Springfield, MA — Central High School) at cornerback, Brian Luce (Anson, ME) at free safety, and junior tackle Scott Hurlbut (Mecklenburg, NY) at tackle among the leading returnees. Senior Jon Dawes (Georgetown, MA) moves from offensive tackle to nose guard.

Luce, a member of the Verizon Academic All-America College Division District 1 team, was 13th nationally in kickoff returns (27.4 average) and second on the team in tackles (62).

Johnson was first in the conference in punt returns (13.2 average) and tied for second in interceptions (6).

NEFC All-Star linebacker Ryan Watson (Rockland, MA) graduated, but the Golden Bears have two solid players in seniors Corey Goldstein (New Hyde Park, NY) and Mike Tedesco (Nashua, NH). Junior Charles Adams (Enfield, CT), a transfer from UConn, and freshman Scott Cronin (Hudson Falls, NY), could make an immediate impact at linebacker.

"If we remain healthy and focus on our goals, there is no telling how far we can go this season," said Martin who is in his 11th year as head coach.

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