Preview: Salve Regina opens conference slate on Fall Festival Weekend

SEPTEMBER 29 | 1 p.m. TOPPA FIELD • NEWPORT, R.I.
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND GOLDEN BEARS (3-1, 0-0 CCC)	SALVE REGINA SEAHAWKS (2-2, 0-0 CCC)
SERIES Seahawks lead, 15-10 LIVE STATS http://www.salveathletics.com/ LIVE VIDEO http://bit.ly/2M4BOsm AUDIO ONLY http://bit.ly/14B30Gy DIRECTIONS http://bit.ly/2PGwnBX

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University football team welcomes Western New England University University to Toppa Field on Saturday, September 29, at 1 p.m. (Fall Festival Weekend). For the 11th consecutive year, college football coaches nationwide will wear patches in support of Coach To Cure MD during games on Saturday, September 29, 2018. The annual effort has raised nearly $2 million to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

SOCIALIZE
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and notes on Salve Regina athletics by connecting with the Seahawks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #goSeahawks for an insider's look at Salve Regina's teams and student-athletes.

LAST TIME OUT
NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior quarterback David James completed 19 of 32 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns to lead Western Connecticut State University over Salve Regina University, 40-21, in non-league football action at Toppa Field. James was picked off twice, both by Salve Regina sophomore defensive back Matt Sylvia (East Greenwich, R.I.), including once in the end zone.

MORE READING: Calamita connects with two different QBs for three scores in 40-21 win over Seahawks

SEAHAWKS NOTES FROM THE NEST

• OUT OF THIS LEAGUE: With a 2-2 mark in non-league games in 2018, the Seahawks have gone 10-4 in their last 14 such games.
• CLASS MAKE-UP: Salve Regina class breakdown is - seniors (13), juniors (21), sophomores (27), and freshmen (34).
• LEAGUE LEADERS: Brandon O'Neill (5.0), John Salute (4.5) lead all CCC players in sacks; Matt Sylvia (4) shares the lead in interceptions with Princewell Iwejuo of Nichols.
• TOP 20 AT TOPPA: The Seahawks have scored at least 20 points in each of their five home games since returning to Toppa. Most points ever scored by Salve Regina football at Toppa? (56-0 over Gallaudet on Sept. 18, 1993). Salve Regina is 7-1 against Western New England at Toppa. Salve Regina won 31 of its first 33 games at Toppa.
• BYE TODAY, BYE NEXT WEEK: Today's opponent (Western New England) has its conference bye next week, while next week's opponent (Becker) has its bye this week.
• STATE YOUR CASE: The state-by-state breakdown for the Seahawk roster is - Connecticut (15), Maine (1), Massachusetts (33), North Carolina (1), New Jersey (25), New York (10), Pennsylvania (1), and Rhode Island (9).
• CAPTAINS: A trio of Seahawk defenders will serve as captains in 2018. Tyler D'Errico, Brandon O'Neill, and John Salute will lead the 2018 squad.

GOLDEN BEAR GOOD NEWS

• LAST TIME OUT FOR WESTERN NEW ENGLAND: A dominant first half performance fueled the Western New England University football team's 59-7 victory over Anna Maria.
• STAT PACK: Junior quarterback Alec Coleman (Arlington, Mass.) finished with over 200 yards of total offense in less than two quarters under center, as he completed 6-of-9 pass attempts for 102 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing six times for 105 yards and two scores. Juniors Peter Hoff (Shelton, Conn.) and Jamyre Soberanis (Dorchester, Mass.) combined for 90 yards and three scores on the ground, while junior Byron Jones (West Hartford, Conn.) led the receiving corps with three catches for 52 yards. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Nick Parchinski (Chester, N.Y.) recorded a team-high five tackles with one sack.
• PRE-SEASON COACHES' POLL: Western New England received six of seven first place votes and 48 points to top the poll, which is voted on by all seven coaches in the conference. Salve Regina earned the final first place nod and 36 points, while Curry and Endicott tied for third place with 35 points each.
• CHANGE AT THE TOP: Jason Lebeau takes over as head coach of his alma mater after serving on Keith Emery's staff for the previous eight seasons. Eight All-CCC performers from the 2017 squad return, including junior running back Pete Hoff (Shelton, Conn.), senior linebacker Kurtis Jolicoeur (Windham, N.H.) and sophomore cornerback Zhaire House (Greenwich, Conn.). Senior Chris Quarles (Naugatuck, Conn.) will serve as Western New England's team captain.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Salve Regina leads the all-time series, 15-10, which includes a 7-1 mark at Toppa Field

WHAT'S NEXT?
Salve Regina completes its four-game homestand at Toppa Field when it hosts Becker College next Saturday at noon. The Golden Bears return home to kickoff against the Colonels of Curry College on Saturday, October 13 (1 p.m.).