Worcester, Mass. (October 23) -- Despite a 340-yard, three-touchdown performance by sophomore quarterback Michael Pierce (Andover, Mass.), the Saint Anselm football team fell by a 45-40 final in a Northeast-10 Conference shootout on Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout Homecoming crowd.

The Greyhounds jumped on the scoreboard less than three minutes into the game as Eric Schindler (Kenilworth, N.J.) pulled down a 14-yard touchdown pass across the middle from Andrew Kupec (Wyckoff, N.J.) for the 7-0 lead. The Hawks answered back just 17 seconds later on the first play of the drive as Pierce found All-American candidate Marc Wilson (Farmington, Conn.) for a 77-yard touchdown to even things at 7-7 just 3:01 into the contest. Wilson's 77-yard reception was the fifth-longest reception in school history. Assumption closed out the first-quarter scoring with 1:17 left as Kupec found senior running back Herb Woodard (Salem, N.J.) on a screen pass, which Woodard took in from 21 yards out for the 14-7 lead.

After a 24-yard field goal by Assumption pushed the advantage to 17-7 midway thru the second quarter, Saint Anselm answered back with another big scoring play to cut the lead down to 17-14 at the half. The big play came courtesy of freshman running back Keith Charles (Laurel, Md.), who scampered 58 yards up the far sideline for his first of three touchdowns on the afternoon.

The Hawks took their first lead of the contest early in the third quarter on a 25-yard scoring run by Charles for the 21-17 advantage. Setting up the touchdown was a 40-yard reception from senior Marcel Bouie (Stone Mountain, Ga.). After a near Saint Anselm interception of Kupec midway thru the half on third down, the Greyhounds took advantage of the opportunity and found wide receiver David Canney (Templeton, Mass.) on the next play for a 32-yard touchdown. Charles and the Hawks came back with a nine-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown run. Saint Anselm missed the extra-point attempt, making it a 27-24 Hawk lead with 5:52 remaining in the third. Assumption had an opportunity to tie the game in the final minute of the quarter, but a 34-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright.

Assumption did retake the lead in the fourth though as Kupec found Paul Perez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) for a 29-yard touchdown and the 31-27 Greyhound lead. The back-and-forth contest continued just 2:02 later as Bouie pulled in a six-yard touchdown from Pierce in the right corner of the end zone for the 34-31 advantage. The score was set up by a 46-yard reception by Charles earlier in the drive.

Kupec and the Greyhounds regained the lead with a pair of unanswered scores in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, including a six-yard touchdown from Marcus Nichols (Salem, N.J.) to get the lead again at 38-34. Assumption pushed the lead into double digits with 2:46 remaining on a 60-yard scoring reception by Canney, his second TD of the game. The Hawks marched 58 yards in 11 plays on the next drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown catch by freshman Justin Bernard (Cambridge, Mass.) to get Saint Anselm within five points at 45-40. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Greyhounds recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory, now holding a 7-5 lead in the all-time series against Saint Anselm.

For the Hawks, Charles picked up 86 yards on the ground with three touchdowns, along with another 80 yards receiving. Charles is just the second freshman in Saint Anselm history to score three rushing touchdowns in a game, and just the third three-rushing touchdown performance overall. For Pierce, his 340-yard performance is the fifth 300-yard passing game in his career. Wilson led the Hawks receivers with six catches for 118 yards, his fifth career 100-yard receiving game. Wilson led the Hawks with 185 all-purpose yards, along with 166 all-purpose yards from Charles. With his six catches, Wilson now holds the Saint Anselm career record for receptions with 139 catches in just two seasons as a wide receiver.

Defensively, Saint Anselm was led by a 15-tackle showing by sophomore Chris Bent (Dracut, Mass.), as well as 12 tackles by sophomore Shane O'Donnell (Dracut, Mass.) and 10 tackles from Brendan Timmons (Franklin, Mass.). O'Donnell had a pair of tackles for a loss of six yards.

For Assumption, Kupec threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns, while Woodard rushed for a game-high 158 yards on the ground. Canney pulled down eight receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns as well.

Saint Anselm falls to 1-6 overall and 1-4 in the Northeast-10, while Assumption improves to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the league. The Hawks are back in action on Saturday, October 30th as the team hosts Stonehill College for a Noon start at Grappone Stadium. The game is a rivalry game for the two teams as the squads play in the "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk".

Prior to the start of the game, the Hawks will recognize members of this year's senior class as part of the program's Senior Day activities. The game is available live online at www.SaintAnselmHawks.tv, with the pregame show beginning at approximately 11:50 a.m. from Manchester.