| Stonehill Spotlight: Sophomore DB Jareed
Gaines |
| Robert Talley Coach's Corner |
The Game: Stonehill College returns to action following its bye week with a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at Pace University on Saturday afternoon. The game marks Homecoming Weekend at Pace. The Skyhawks are in search of their first NE-10 victory of the season, having dropped its last three games following a 41-33 non-conference victory over Pace in Easton, Mass., on September 10. The Setters are looking to claim their first win of the year, having dropped all five games this season, including three NE-10 matchups after falling at Assumption College last Saturday, 20-0.
Media Info: Live video webcast of today's game is available through www.stonehillskyhawks.com via www.pacesetters.com the Pace University athletics website.
The Series: This afternoon marks the 15th meeting all-time between these two programs, the second of the season. Pace holds an 8-6 advantage in the series that dates back to the 1995 season, but Stonehill has won two-straight meetings and five of the last seven going back to 2003. The Setters are 6-1 all-time against the Skyhawks here at Pace Field, winning the last two meetings here - including a 28-24 decision in 2008. Stonehill is 3-1 against Pace in four seasons under head coach Robert Talley, including a 41-33 non-conference decision last month in Easton.
Record Breaking Eddie: Senior captain Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass.) has already set program records for career all-purpose yards (4,040), career rushing touchdowns (20) and total touchdowns scored (27), but is closing in on some more school records. Vachon will set a school record for career rush attempts with his first carry of the afternoon and enters today's game just 148 yards shy of Tyrone Jefferson's career mark for rushing yards (2,701) set from 1998-00.
What a Rush: Senior running back Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass.) continues to lead the Northeast-10 (ranking sixth nationally in Division II) in rushing with 130.2 yards per game. The only running back in the NE-10 averaging over 100 yards per game, Vachon has carried the ball 107 times for 651 yards (6.1/carry) and five touchdowns - a yardage total good for ninth in program history. He also ranks second in the NE-10 for scoring (8.4 ppg), fourth for all-purpose yards (151.8/gm) and is ninth in total offense (135.2).
He. Could. Go. All. The. Way!: Junior Stephan Neville (Foxborough, Mass.) has returned six career kickoffs for a touchdown and has had touchdowns returns in each of Stonehill's last two games after his career-high matching 94-yard touchdown return against New Haven to start the third quarter two weeks ago. He has moved back into the NE-10 lead with his 29.4-yards per return average (10th nationally). Last season, he led a Stonehill return corps which led NCAA Division II by averaging 26.7 yards per kickoff return, including three returns for scores. Neville led the country with 36.7 yards per return - 12.0 yards per return more than second place among NE-10 leaders.
On Deck: The Skyhawks return home next Saturday, October 23, to host Southern Connecticut State University on Family Weekend at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m.