Football Outlasts UNE On Senior Day, 19-17

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott football team pulled through against the University of New England (UNE), 19-17, on Senior Day at Hempstead Stadium.

Prior to the game, seniors Connor Ahrens (Simsbury, Conn.), Nick Amaral (Tiverton, R.I.), Michael Awiszus (Andover, Mass.), Wyatt Brennan (Woodbury, Conn.), Adam Caffey (Melrose, Mass.), Kyle Camposano (Acton, Mass.), Ryan Craft (Milford, Conn.), Dominic Damata (Merrimack, N.H.), Tyler Davis (Bethel, Conn.), James Day (Greenwich, Conn.), Nate Driscoll (Plaistow, N.H), Dylan Gardner (Coventry, R.I.), Larue Graham (Meriden, Conn.), Geoffrey Ingrando (Everett, Mass.), Teyshawn Jackson (Windsor, Conn), John Kenney (Wilmington, Mass.), Cooper Marengi (Lynnfield, Mass.), Cian Marderos (Bend, Ore.), Ethan McGrath (New City, N.Y.), Shea McManaway (Lisbon, Conn), Matt Meagher (Andover, Mass.), Joshua Morin (Warwick, R.I.), Alex Morisset (Everett, Mass.), Thomas Nye (Woburn, Mass.), Tim Russell (Stoneham, Mass), Hayden Schinderman (Chappaqua, N.Y.), Jack Slattery (Chelmsford, Mass), Mehdi Squalli (Rochester, N.Y.), and athletic trainers Elijah Harris, Sierra Miller, and Shannon Tripodi were all honored for their contributions to the program and the Endicott community.

As for the contest, Endicott was able to capture the win in clutch fashion after Ryan Smith (Glastonbury, Conn.) converted a 34-yard field goal with just 39 seconds remaining in regulation. 

Prior to the game-winning drive, the Gulls found themselves on the scoreboard first following a bad snap from the Nor'easters special teams unit resulting in a safety for Endicott.

After the initial score, Jaeden Baxter (Worcester, Mass.) was able to corral a multi-tipped pass by the UNE defense resulting in a Gulls' touchdown with only five seconds left in the first half of play.  

From there, Anthony Caggianelli (Pelham, N.H.) paved his way through UNE's defense for a 1-yard rushing score to give the Gulls a 16-10 advantage, at the time (5:00, 3rd). 

BEYOND THE BOX 

• Endicott is undefeated (3-0) in the all-time series over UNE.
• Colin Meropoulos (Monroe, Conn) broke the school record for sacks in a single-game (4.5) and a single-season (11.5) in the win.
• Meropolous finished today's game with eight tackles (five solo, three assisted), 4.5 sacks for 31 yards, and 4.5 tackles for a loss for 34 yards.
• Shane Aylward (Tewksbury, Mass) hauled in nine catches for 96 yards. Aylward now has seven or more catches in the last five games. 
• Davis, Squalli, and Sam Opont (Bridgeport, Conn.) all compiled 10 tackles in the matchup.
• Michael LeFebre (Methuen, Mass.) blocked one field goal, had one pass breakup, and recorded two tackles.
• The Gulls have forced at least one turnover in every game this season. 
• Endicott is 5-0 at The Nest this season.

WHAT'S NEXT 

Endicott (7-2, 4-1 CCC Football) will enjoy its bye week before traveling to Nichols (2-6, 0-4 CCC Football) next Saturday, November 13 at 12 PM. UNE (3-4, 1-3 CCC) welcomes Western New England (5-3, 3-1 CCC Football) on Saturday, November 6 at 1 PM. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Chris Lyons '23)