New Haven, Conn. (October 30, 2004)— Mike Abate threw four touchdown passes as Southern Connecticut State rolled past Saint Anselm, 42-0 in a Northeast-10 Conference Homecoming game in New Haven, Conn. Saturday.

It took the Owls just three offensive plays to go ahead 14-0 nothing with Kofi Wilson (Shelton, Conn.) going for a 53-yard scoring run just 47 seconds into the game on the team's second play of the game and Mike Abate (Norwalk, Conn.) connecting with Naciki Reid (Bloomfield, Conn.) for a 44-yard pass at the 11:11 mark.

SCSU improves to 7-2 overall, 6-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Saint Anselm, which has dropped four straight games, falls to 4-5 overall, 3-5 in conference play.

Wilson then capped the Owl's longest drive of the game, an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a two-yard dive for a 21-0 lead. The home team then rounded out the first half scoring with an eight-yard pass from Abate to Artie Gallant (S. Portland, Maine) with 4:07 to go in the opening session.

A 12-yard scoring pass from Abate to Reid came 1:18 into the third quarter to make the score 35-0 and then Abate found Justin Bell (Hudson, N.Y.) on a three-yard pass on fourth and goal with 8:12 remaining in the third to make the score 42-0.
SCSU outgained the Hawks 517 to 132 with a balanced attack featuring 267 yards rushing and 250 passing.

The Owl's defense also recorded eight sacks on the afternoon. Wilson became the first player to rush for 100 yards against the Hawks' defense with 128 yards on just 10 carries in the game. Abate finished 14-for-24 for 238 yards and Gallant had five catches for 98 yards.

David Heiner (Farmington, Conn./ Farmington) set the school's single season record for tackles for a loss in the game with a solo effort in the first quarter. He entered the game as the nation's leader in that category, finishing with two (one sack) to give him 25.5 on the season and surpassing Lance Flagg's, '02 record of 23.5. The sack was also his 15^th on the year (14 solo). Unfortunately his day ended in the third quarter with a leg injury.   

Despite being hobbled by an ankle injury, sophomore Michael Garcarz (New Britain, Conn./ New Britain) caught a pair of passes to set the school's single season record for receptions with 50. Matt Raymond (Niantic, Conn./ East Lyme) also set a personal best with five catches for 37 yards in the game. Doug Beaulieu (Nashua, N.H./ Nashua) also recovered a pair of fumbles in the game. 

Saint Anselm returns to action on November 6 when the Hawks host American International College in a 12:00 PM season finale at Grappone Stadium.