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WORCESTER, Mass. - The University of New Haven football team, led by a 321-yard performance by quarterback Ryan Osiecki (Seymour, Conn./Seymour / Univ. of Louisville), captured a 21-7 victory at Assumption College Saturday night. The nationally ranked No. 25 Chargers improved to 3-1 overall and open their Northeast-10 Conference schedule. The Greyhounds fell to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play with the loss.

Osiecki completed 22-of-33 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Under pressure all night, Osiecki passed one interception and was sacked eight times. Jason Thompson (Indiantown, Fla./South Fork ) led the receiving corps with five catches for 119 and one touchdown, including a 53-yard touchdown pass from Oseicki. The game was sloppy on both sides, as A total of 21 penalties were called throughout the night. The Chargers were called for 14 for 140 yards, while Assumption was called for seven penalties for 55 yards. Mike DeCaro (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay ) led the UNH rushing attack with 13 carries for 81 yards.

Defensively, Bernard Risco (Philadelphia, Pa./James Hillhouse) led the squad with 10 tackles, while Charlie Hatchett (Bridgeport, Conn./Stratford / Santa Monica College) and Ahmet Baki Basci (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) each added six.

A very sloppy first quarter made for a back-and-forth first quarter and set the stage for a very up-and-down game in Worcester. Neither team scored in the first quarter, while both teams touched the ball four times in the first quarter. New Haven and Assumption exchanged punts a number of times before the Chargers fumbled while starting to drive the field with 7:54 left in the first quarter. After back-to-back punts again, Assumption went for a 4th-and-3 and the ball was incomplete. The Chargers then took over possession on their own 31-yard line. UNH was forced to punt and the game remained tied at 0-0 through the end of the first quarter.

Assumptions first possession of the second quarter went 35-yards before Risco forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Assumption 49-yard line. The Chargers lost yards on the drive and an interception by Assumption stalled the UNH offence once again with 10:16 left in the first half. Both defenses, forced two more punts before the Greyhounds regained possession at their own 23-yard line with 6:48 on the clock. A bobbled snap on the first play of the drive was recovered by New Haven's Mike Gomes (Brockton, Mass./Brockton ) and sparked a UNH drive start at the Assumption 16-yard line. UNH then broke the tie with a 6-play 16-yard drive which was capped by an 11-yard pass touchdown pass from Osiecki to Josh Smart (Hamden, Conn./Hamden ) with 4:20 left in the half.

On Assumption's next drive, #J.D. Chalifoux# ended the drive early as he stepped in front of a pass with 2:52 remaining in the half. The interception was his first of the season. New Haven then took over the ball at its own 21-yard line. After four plays and two first downs, Osiecki and Thompson connected on a long ball down the right side of the field which sailed at least 50 yards and resulted in the game's second touchdown. Chris Scifo (Coral Springs, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas / Central Connecticut State University) kicked the extra point and the Chargers took a 14-0 lead at halftime.

New Haven had possession out of halftime, as they deferred in the opening half, and they drove the ball 30-yards on seven plays before being forced to punt. Assumption and New Haven once again exchanged punts before the Greyhounds took over with 1:50 left in the third quarter. Assumption then went 78-yards on five plays and scored a touchdown off a nine-yard run by Nick Bolio.

The Chargers took over possession at the end of the third quarter, up 14-7, and held on to the ball for the next three minutes. At the end of the drive, Scifo came on to attempt a 48-yard field goal which sailed wide right and kept the score within one score at 14-7. The Greyhounds drive stalled after two first downs and New Haven regained possession at its own 33. UNH then went on an 8-play 67-yard touchdown drive which was capped by a 17-yard touchdown catch by Chris Ruffin (New York, N.Y./Phillip Randolph). Again, the Scifo extra point gave the Chargers a 21-7 lead.

Assumption had possession twice in the final minutes, but the Chargers managed to pressure the quarterback and force incomplete passes to seal the victory.

As a defense, UNH gave up just 182 total yards, while the offense gained 375 yards. The game was constantly interrupted by flags as a total of 21 penalties were called in the game. UNH was flagged 14 times for 140 yards, while the Greyhounds were penalized seven times for 55 yards. The other key to keeping Assumption in the game longer was eight Greyhound sacks. Assumptions front four defensive linemen pressured Osiecki all night.

New Haven returns to Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium next week as they host Stonehill College. Game time on Saturday, October 1 is set for 1 p.m. Stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com for complete coverage throughout the week.