2003 Preview

UMass Dartmouth football returns 15 starters to defend New England Football Conference championship

(Dartmouth, MA) – UMass Dartmouth returns 15 starters from last year’s New England Football Conference championship team which finished with an 11-1 record and ranked #1 in the final New England Division III football poll. Despite the Corsairs’ success last season, Corsair head coach Bill Kavanaugh has made it clear to his team that 2003 is a new season.

“We talk about the Muhlenberg game a lot for the guys who were here last year,” said Kavanaugh, who is entering his 14th season at UMass Dartmouth with a 78-54 won-loss record. “We had a great year, but we are far from the best team in the country. So our goal should be to win the national championship.”

UMass Dartmouth took a big step forward in terms of respectability last season, posting an 11-0 regular season record and capturing its first outright NEFC championship. The Corsairs’ 16-0 victory over Westfield State College in the NEFC title game also earned UMass Dartmouth its first invitation to the NCAA Division III tournament. A 56-6 loss to Muhlenberg College ended the Corsairs’ season on a down note, but it set the stage for the 2003 campaign.

“This team is going to have to go through some adversity early and reestablish their identity. I hope we can do it,” said Kavanaugh. “We have a great test in going to Plymouth State (Sept 13) in the second game of the year after opening with Mount Ida (Sept. 6).

Corsair opponents will see plenty of familiar faces, especially on defense, where UMass Dartmouth returns nine starters. The Corsair defense posted four shutouts and led the nation in turnover margin, recovering 25 fumbles plus 28 interceptions. The Corsairs were also fifth nationally in passing efficiency (78.25 rating), sixth in points allowed (11.2 per game) and 11th in total defense, allowing 245.2 yards per game.

UMass Dartmouth returns all four starters in the defensive secondary, led by senior co-captains Tom Koska (New Bedford, MA) (three interceptions) and Matt O’Day (Westminster, MA). O’Day was an NEFC Second Team selection with five interceptions and was joined by teammate sophomore Matt Lavallee (Milbury, MA) (five interceptions) as a Football Gazette Division III All-East Region defensive back. Junior Jason Berroa (Lynn, MA) will also return to the starting lineup as will Chad Pimental (Dartmouth, MA), who started five games last year. Senior Marco Angelo (Norwood, MA) will be back following a year off with an injury.

“Our secondary is going to be our strength,” said Kavanaugh, last year’s NEFC Coach of the Year. “Up front we think we’re going to be fine by playing several different people and hit the gaps like we did last year. We will play a speed defense and use speed to our advantage.”

The Corsairs will build their defensive line around returning starters junior Tom Akillian (Easton, MA) and senior Phil Rashkovetsky (Newton, MA), an NEFC First Team All-Star. Senior Matt Burke (Rockland, MA) will also be back in the starting line up along with junior Grant Hajder (Swansea, MA), who saw plenty of time last year. Junior Dave Richard (Medford, MA), a back up last year, has also looked good in early season practice. Senior T. J. Mahoney (Pawtucket, RI) and sophomore Louis Lopes (Norwood, MA) will anchor the linebacking positions with sophomore Mike Bleakley (Oakmont, MA) getting some playing time.

Tri-captain and third-year starter at quarterback John Falcone (Norwood, MA) will lead UMass Dartmouth’s offense. An NEFC Second Team selection last year, Falcone led the NEFC in total offense (198 yards per game) and passing efficiency with a 128.46 rating. He connected on 143 of 240 passes for 1,631 yards, 11 TD passes and only four interceptions. He was the Corsairs’ second-leading runner with 713 yards on 147 carries and eight TDs. Senior Val Teixeira (Dorchester, MA) will be back with the Corsiars after starting three games two years ago. Teixeira will back up Falcone after sitting out last year with an injury. Freshman Ryan Walsh (New Bedford, MA) will also be a backup quarterback.

“With Falcone’s experience he is a smarter player for us and he is also in better shape than ever before,” said Kavanaugh. “We know that he is a winner.”

Falcone will have plenty of options in the passing game as UMass Dartmouth has three experienced receivers back this season as well as a talented newcomer. Senior Jason Marino (Revere, MA) was the Corsairs’ second-leading receiver last year with 28 catches for 442 yards (15.8 per catch) and a team high four TD catches. O’Day (18 catches, 199 yards) and sophomore Wayne Homol (Swansea, MA) (18 catches, 219 yards) will also be available to Falcone. Kavanaugh said newcomer sophomore receiver Victor Cruz (New Bedford, MA) could also get some time on offense this season.

“We can throw the ball with four good receivers,” said Kavanaugh. “Because of our personnel we can probably throw the ball a little more than we did last year. Last year we ran to set up the throw, this year I think we can do both.

The Corsairs’ running game will benefit from the return of senior Shawn Theriault (Wakefield, MA), who rushed for 1,181 yards on 239 carries, an average of 94.2 yards per game (4.7 yards per carry) plus 12 TDs. Senior Eric Gaccione (Westerly, RI) will back up Theriault this season.

“We have to develop our offensive line quickly this season,” Kavanaugh added. “The reason we were successful last year was that our running game (201.7 yards per game, 4.1 yards per carry) helped open our passing game. Our offensive line is just going to have to do it, but it helps to have a great back like Theriault.”

Senior Tom Rank (Branford, CT) is the lone returning starter on the offensive line who saw significant playing time last season. Senior Dave Bosh (Taunton, MA) will move over from the defensive side to start at center, while sophomore Dave Miranda (Swansea, MA) and junior Mike White (Lynn, MA) will step into the starting lineup after serving as back ups last season. Sophomore Joe Andenmotten (Great Barrington, MA) will return as the Corsairs’ tight end.

One bright spot for the Corsairs will be their return to campus for five home games at Cressy Field. A $1.2 million dollar resurfacing project has given the Corsairs a state of the art artificial surface field which Kavanaugh hopes will be a major boost for the program.

“The best thing for us this year is the new field,” Kavanaugh said. “It is a rallying point for us in many ways. It is something that will be a great focal point for excitement for our fans and us. But we still have to go out and play one game at a time.”

Jim Mullins
Administrative Assistant
UMass Dartmouth Athletic Department
285 Old Westport Road
Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
Phone: (508) 910-6930
Fax: (508) 999-8867
Email: jmullins@umassd.edu