MILTON, Mass. - The Curry College football team suffered a 23-10 loss to Western New England University in its Homecoming game Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference action at Walter M. Katz Field.
With the loss, Curry drops to 2-4 overall on the season and 0-3 in the CCC. Western New England improves to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in league play.
The visitors started off the contest with a bang, as senior Adam Razza returned the game's opening kickoff 91 yards untouched for a touchdown. The extra point sailed wide and the Golden Bears jumped ahead 6-0 just 12 seconds in.
Curry responded midway through the opening quarter, finding the scoreboard when quarterback Justin Mullaney (Danvers, Mass.) capped a nine-play, 44-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown scamper. Billy Lynch (Mansfield, Mass.) split the uprights with his PAT try to give Curry a 7-6 lead that would hold through the remainder of the quarter.
A 35-yard field goal from Western New England graduate student Zac Christian was the only scoring of the second quarter, as the Golden Bears went to the break ahead 9-7.
Western New England extended its lead to two scores just over six minutes into the second half when running back EJ Dudley punched one in from a yard out, pushing the visitors' advantage to 16-7.
Curry got back to within six at 16-10 when Lynch knocked through a 27-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. On the impending Golden Bear drive, Curry senior linebacker Gregory Silvia (Coventry, R.I.) forced a clutch fumble that gave Curry the ball with a chance to take the lead. On Curry's very first play after regaining possession however, Aaron Lamar jumped in front of Mullaney's pass for a momentum-shifting interception.
Six plays later, the Golden Bears clinched the victory when Steven Fedorchak caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Carlos Martin Nieto, putting Western New England ahead 23-10.
Martin Nieto finished the contest throwing 16-of-24 for 220 yards with a touchdown in the victory. Curry's Mullaney completed 25 of 31 passes for 162 yards, but finished the day without a touchdown pass.
The game's top receiver was Fedorchak, who caught seven passes for 103 yards and the game-sealing touchdown. Curry's Maxx Bell (Auburn, Maine) led Curry with seven catches for 70 yards.
Silvia paced Curry's defense with eight tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Western New England's Joshua Salem was the only player to reach double figures in tackles, finishing the day with 10, including two tackles for loss.
Curry will be off next weekend before traveling to Salve Regina on October 30 for a CCC battle with the Seahawks.
#BleedPurple
