Seahawks earn ECAC Bowl bid; first since 1999
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University football team has earned an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North-West Bowl selection, as announced by ECAC director of sport administration, Ben Layton on Sunday night. The Seahawks will host Worcester State this Saturday (12 p.m.) at Gaudet Field in what will mark the program's first ECAC Bowl appearance since 1999.
The Seahawks recorded a 7-3 mark during the regular season, earning their most victories since the year 2000. They enter Saturday riding a five-game winning streak, including a 37-27 victory over Nichols in their regular season finale.
The Lancers finished the year with an 8-2 record, compiling their first winning season since 2004. The team finished the regular season by earning victories in each of their last three contests, knocking off Bogan Division champions Framingham State by a score of 27-13 in their last contest.
Salve Regina and Worcester State have faced each other eight times over the years, with the Lancers holding a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series. Worcester State has won each of the last six head-to-head match ups, including a thrilling 28-27 victory in their last meeting in which the Lancers scored during the final 32 seconds of the fourth quarter to earn the one-point victory.
This match up will feature the high-flying offense of the Lancers versus the stout Seahawk defense. The Lancers are ranked second in conference in scoring (34.1 ppg), rushing (217.4 ypg), and total offense (409.9 ypg). On the flip side, the Seahawk defense finished the regular season ranked second in the NEFC by allowing just 14.9 points per game and causing 32 turnovers (16 fumble recoveries and 16 interceptions). In addition, Salve Regina is among the top five teams in the conference in both rushing defense (122.6 ypg) and total defense (277.1 ypg), setting up an intriguing match up to watch this weekend.
A win on Saturday would give the Seahawks their first victory over the Lancers, as well as their first ECAC Bowl triumph, since they accomplished both feats during the 1998 season.
Coverage for the game includes audio broadcast on WADK-AM 1540 with Bobb Angel and Jim Ascoli as well as Internet audio provided by BlackDiamondSports.net with Tommy Ryan on the call. Both sets of broadcasters were on hand at Gaudet Field on Oct. 8 when Salve Regina defeated UMass Dartmouth, 38-7.
Additionally, Salve Regina will produce a live video broadcast on its Ustream.tv channel.
