UMass Dartmouth returns 16 starters as
Corsairs try to get back on winning track

(Dartmouth, MA) - After three consecutive 8-2 seasons, UMass Dartmouth slipped to 3-7 last year, a record Bill Kavanaugh hopes to improve on during the 2000 season.

"Its going to be a real cross road season for the entire program," said Kavanaugh, who is entering his 11th season with the Corsairs (56-41 career record). "We were on top of the world for a few years, then last year we just forgot how to win. It has been in the back of the players� and coaches� minds since the end of last year. We have a great group of kids this season who remember last year all too well."

Sixteen returning starters (8 offense, 8 defense) and more team speed than Kavanaugh has seen at UMass Dartmouth in quite a while will lead the Corsairs. Among the returning starters on offense are NEFC Honorable mention tight end and senior captain Mike Armandi (Foxboro, MA) and running back Frank Meranda (Richmond, CA). On defense, UMass Dartmouth will look to senior captains Charlie Hogan (Waltham, MA) at linebacker, defensive tackle Chris O�Day (Westminster, MA) and defensive end Matt Souza (Mansfield, MA).

"We think defensive line could be our team's strongest unit this season," Kavanaugh said. "We have 6 veterans in four positions and we're going to be pretty strong up front and we've got good speed."

O'Day, Souza, junior Chris Jones (Foxboro, MA), junior Mike Caito (Chelmsford, MA) and junior Mark Kulakowski (Peabody, MA) will anchor the defensive line with help from junior Dustin Soule (Middleboro, MA), who missed six games last year with an injury.

Hogan returns for another year at linebacker after leading the Corsairs in tackles a year ago with 51 (31 unassisted), along with senior Nick Freitas (Swansea, MA). Sophomore Dustin Simone (Westerly, RI) will return from an injury last year and junior Eric Berlied (Acton, MA) is back with the team after missing last season.

"Like our defensive line, I think we�ve got some players with great speed and experience at linebacker," Kavanaugh added.

Senior safety Manny Santo (Warwick, RI) and junior corner back Tony Lopes (Norwood, MA) are the key returners in the defensive backfield. Santo was the Corsairs� second leading tackler a year ago with 50 tackles (34 unassisted) and a pair of interceptions, while Lopes had an interception as well. Junior Geoff Taintor (Natick, MA), a transfer from Nichols College, is slated at one corner back position with freshman Marco Angelo (Norwood, MA) pushing for playing time. Santo and junior Chris Landraville (Portsmouth, RI) will be the safeties with freshman Matt O�Day (Westminster, MA) and junior Mike Marino (Revere, MA) getting time as well.

"We�re a little young in the defensive backfield compared to some other positions but we can build around Lopes and Santo," said Kavanaugh. "Some of our best recruits are in the defensive backfield so I hope we can develop some depth back there."

UMass Dartmouth�s offense will depend on the contributions of Armandi, who Kavanaugh calls the best tight end in the New England Football conference and Meranda at tailback.

"Most people are going to try to stop Armandi this year," said Kavanaugh. "We're going to have to try to find ways to get him the ball."

Armandi led the Corsairs with 32 catches last season for 523 yards, an average of 16.3 yards per catch, plus a pair of TD catches. In addition to Armandi, the Corsairs hope to reignite their spread passing game by moving junior running back Shane Harris (Marion, MA) to split end to join sophomore Joe Sabina (Taunton, MA) and give the Corsairs more speed on the outside. A year ago, Sabina was second in receiving behind Armandi with 18 catches for 277 yards and 3 TDs. Harris caught 15 passes out of the backfield for 108 yards and 3 TDs a year ago. Freshman John Silva (New Bedford, MA) could also see some action on offense as well.

If the spread passing game is successful in stretching defenses, Meranda will be the main beneficiary. In his first season with the Corsairs last year as a junior, Meranda picked up 1,103 yards rushing, eighth best in the NEFC. He averaged 110.3 yards per game, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and leading UMass Dartmouth with 10 TDs. Meranda had six 100-yard games last year.

"We're expecting more from Meranda this year. I think he' s more comfortable with the offense and that going to be a big help," said Kavanaugh.

Meranda is going to be joined at full back by junior Frank Feminio (Medford, MA) who is moving over from the defense this season. Kavanaugh said the move was made to take advantage of Femino�s speed. Senior Shawn Harris (Dartmouth, MA) (31 carries, 172 yards) had 4 TDs last year and should get his share of carries this season.

Opening up the holes on offense will be the job of UMass Dartmouth�s offensive line. Returning veterans junior center Paul Tarralo, junior Jim Sullivan (Dennis, MA) and junior tackle Pat Munroe (Medford, MA) along with senior Jon Rawson (Grafton, MA) give the Corsairs a veteran front line. Junior Joe Sullivan (Dennis, MA) will move into the other guard position, with back up from junior Mark Hallion (Franklin, MA) and sophomore Nate Aronson (Falmouth, MA).

With plenty of experience up front and speed at the specialty positions, the key decision facing the Corsairs is who plays quarterback. Last season senior Matt McLaughlin (Mansfield, MA) played the first half of the season with senior Jason Nutting (Norwood, MA) taking over in the second half. McLaughlin was 69 for 128 with 5 TD passes and 874 yards, while Nutting was 45 of 86 for 609 yard and a pair of TD passes.

"We want to spread the field with our passing game to take advantage of our speed," said Kavanaugh. "Both quarterbacks have experience from last year and both have certain strengths. What we need to do is determine who is better at running our offense."

Kavanaugh said defending NEFC Champion Bridgewater State and Salve Regina University would be the favorites for the first New England Football Conference championship game with Nichols and Curry showing steady improvement.

"We need to stay healthy, develop some depth on offense while our defense is the strength of the team," Kavanaugh said. "We have to be able to move the ball on offense and not always rely on our defense to come up with the big play. But it is always nice to have a good defense to fall back on when you have to."

UMass Dartmouth opens the 2000 season with a non-conference game at Springfield College on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.