Worcester, Mass. (September 11, 2004)— The Saint Anselm defense dominated Assumption as the Hawks took home a 26-17 road win over the Assumption Greyhounds Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference game in Worcester, Mass.

It is the first time in the school's modern era that Saint Anselm has started a season at 2-0 (1-0 NE-10). Assumption falls to 0-2 both overall and in the Northeast-10.Saint Anselm recovered from a woeful 17-3 deficit that saw Assumption score two defensive touchdowns, outscoring the hosts 23-0 to win going away. The Hawks' offense totaled 377 yards in the game but after committing five turnovers, it was the defense that made a difference.  

Michael Garcarz set two single game receiving records to go along with a pair of field goals.

The Hawks' defense did just that, allowing just 163 yard of total offense in the game, including just 51 rushing yards on 32 carries (1.6 ypc). They also had four sacks and picked off three passes, two of which came late in the action to preserve the win while forcing a record 14 Assumption punts.

Saint Anselm took the lead for good early in the second half. Assumption had possession to start, but Brian Sundell (N. Easton, Mass./ Oliver Ames) intercepted a pass off a David Heiner (Farmington, Mass./ Farmington) deflection to give the Hawks the ball at the Greyhound 19.

The offense immediately capitalized on a reverse option as Michael Garcarz (New Britain, Conn./ New Britain) found Kevin Lukas (Rocky Hill, Conn./ Rocky Hill) in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good but the Hawks held their first lead of the game, 19-17.

The rest of the half went scoreless until 1:58 to play when Derek DiMartino (Amherst, N.H./ UMass Amherst) bullied his way into the endzone from nine yards out to make the score 26-17. The drive started on the Assumption 46-yardline after an interception by Jim Malone (Leominster, Mass./ Leominster) and was kept alive on a 32-yard pass from Shane Dinagen (Harrisville, R.I./ Burrilville) to Garcarz on a 3rd and 7 play.

DiMartino finished the game with 152 yards rushing on 31 carries (4.9 ypc) and moved atop the program's all-time rushing list with 2,044. Garcarz also etched his name in the record books, tying the single game record with eight receptions for a single-game best 158 yards.

On defense, Thomas Kelleher (Wakefield, Mass./ Wakefield) led the way with nine tackles to go along with a fumble recovery and a blocked punt. Michael Bombardier (Kingston, Mass./ Silver Lake Reg.) and Heiner both recorded two sacks with Heiner totaling 3.5 tackles for a loss.    

The two teams combined for just 52 yards of offense in the first quarter with Assumption logging just three of those yards. However, the Hawks turned the ball over three times with one of them, an interception, being returned 27 yards for a Greyhound touchdown by Matt Klaskin (Norfolk, Mass.).

The Hawks' struggles continued at the outset of the second quarter as Mike Pruell (Walpole, Mass.) picked off Dinagen at the Hawks' own two-yard line and walked in to the endzone for the 'Hounds' second defensive score of the day. 

The two teams then got into the game offensively and after trading field goals, the Hawks found the endzone with 3:59 to play on a 31-yard strike from Dinagen to Garcarz, who made a leaping catch between two Assumption defenders to make the score 17-10 Assumption.

Later in the second, a blocked punt by Kelleher gave the Hawks good field position in Assumption territory, and Garcarz added a 37-yard field goal to further cut into the lead.

Saint Anselm returns to action on Saturday when the Hawks open their home schedule with a 1:00 PM game against Pace.