THROGGS NECK, NY – An NCAA Tournament berth was on the line for the Maritime College football team on Saturday, as No. 20 Springfield visited Reinhart Field with the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) title at stake.  The Pride (10-0, 7-0 NEWMAC) clinched their fourth straight NEWMAC championship and snapped the Privateers' (7-3, 5-2 NEWMAC) five-game winning streak with a 55-20 victory.

Maritime received the opening kickoff and moved into Springfield territory.  The Privateers were stopped on 4^th-and-5, though, and the Pride got on the board five plays later.  After a three-and-out, a botched snap on the Maritime punt gave Springfield excellent field position.  The Pride took advantage and marched into the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter, a Springfield fumble that was recovered by Kevin Wu (Staten Island, NY) set up Maritime's first touchdown.  Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) found Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY) from 13 yards out to pull the Privateers within 14-7.  However, Springfield immediately countered when Arsen Shtefan ran 61 yards to paydirt, making it 21-7. 

The Pride led 28-7 at halftime, then got the ball first in the second half and proceeded to march 71 yards in 12 plays for a score.  Maritime responded with a long touchdown drive of its own, though, moving 68 yards in 13 plays.  Devin Cline's (Miller Place, NY) 6-yard TD scurry cut Springfield's lead to 34-14.

After the Pride increased their margin to 48-14, Ian Derda (Guilford, CT) nearly took a kickoff return to the house.  He raced 83 yards before he was brought down on the Springfield 13.  On the next play, Stassi connected with Luke Caliendo (North Babylon, NY) for the score.  Trailing 48-20, the Privateers attempted an onside kick.  Springfield's Billy Carr recovered it and went 40 yards untouched into the end zone with 1:20 remaining to cap the scoring and seal the Pride's 27^th consecutive conference win.

Stassi had issues with the wind all day and finished 19-for-44 for 166 yards.  He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions.  Caliendo had eight receptions for 88 yards and a score, while Casaburi made five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.  Cline carried 20 times for 79 yards, and he found the end zone once.  Derda, meanwhile, tallied 115 all-purpose yards, hauling in three receptions for 19 yards to go along with a 13-yard run and an 83-yard kickoff return.

Defensively, Wu led the way with a career-high 20 tackles.  He also had 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.  Wu was one of 18 seniors honored prior to the contest.

Springfield gained 414 yards on the ground and didn't throw a single pass.  Shtefan finished with 231 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, while Blaine Hart rushed 10 times for 74 yards and three scores.  Joseph Cannizzaro added 68 yards and a TD on 13 rushing attempts.

Carr had 12 tackles and a pass breakup to go along with his 40-yard kickoff return touchdown.  Will McKay added nine tackles, and Tyler Paladino returned an interception 36 yards.  JT Kinsey and Cam Hart, meanwhile, each sacked Stassi once.

Despite the loss, Maritime's season is not over.  If they don't receive an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament, the Privateers will represent the NEWMAC in the inaugural Fusion Bowl against an opponent from the Conference of New England.  The date, time and location of Maritime's next game will be confirmed on Monday.