Hamilton College's vaunted defense allowed 92 yards of offense and shut out its second straight opponent in a 6-0 victory against host Colby College at Seaverns Field in Waterville, Maine, on Oct. 21.
Hamilton blanked Bowdoin College 12-0 at Steuben Field on Oct. 14. The last time the Continentals posted two consecutive shutouts was in 1967. Hamilton defeated Colby for the first time since a 28-0 win in 1997. The Continentals improved to 2-3 overall and in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.
Ben Tomaszewski '10 scored on a 25-yard pass from Ben Saccomano '09 with 5:45 left in the second quarter for the game's only touchdown. An interception and 52-yard return by Matt Pitarresi '08 set up the winning score. The point-after was blocked.
Tomaszewski caught five passes for a game-high 75 yards. The touchdown catch is his first this season. Saccomano was 9 of 23 for 108 yards and an interception. He also ran for 29 yards. Saccomano has thrown two touchdown passes this year. Jim Chapman '09 led all rushers with 41 yards on 12 carries.
Once again, the defense was the key to this Hamilton win. The Continentals picked off three passes, forced two fumbles that led to two fumble recoveries, sacked the quarterback six times and broke up four pass attempts. Hamilton, which has allowed just 37 points in five games, limited the Mules to minus-20 yards on the ground.
Jesse Koch '07 -- the NESCAC and Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Northeast Region Defensive Player of the Week last week -- led the Continentals with seven tackles and intercepted his second pass in as many games. Pitarresi added six stops. Ray DeMartino '07 forced a fumble, broke up a pass and was credited with one sack for a loss of 10 yards.
John Lawrence '10 and Taylor Soobitsky '09 notched two sacks apiece. Soobitsky is second in the conference with seven sacks this year. Lawrence added four solo stops and a fumble recovery. Derek Donovan '08 chipped in with a sack and the first interception of his career. Kurtis Magee '08 forced a fumble.
Hamilton hosts undefeated Williams College for Family Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m.
Posted October 22, 2006
