Springfield, Mass. - October 24, 2015 -The Springfield College football team was defeated by St. Lawrence, 38-21, on Saturday afternoon in Liberty League play on Stagg Field.

Playing in front of over 3,000 fans in Springfield's Homecoming game, St. Lawrence improved to 6-1 and remains perfect in league play with a 4-0 mark. The Pride evened its record to 4-4, 2-3 in league action.

Jake Eglintine (Gansevoort, N.Y.) rushed for 184 yards on just 16 carries, averaging 11.5 yards per rush while finding the end zone three times.  As a team, the Pride rushed for 305 yards on the day.  Max Nacewicz (Sandy Hook, Conn.) finished the day with seven tackles and a sack for the Pride, while Dominic Traversa (Pittsfield, Mass.) chipped in seven stops of his own.

Mike Lefflbine (Greenwich, Conn.) went 21-for-37 for 220 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with eight different receivers on the afternoon.  Vincenzo Ferraro (Greenwich, Conn.) caught a game-high five balls for 78 yards, while Leondre Simmon (Freeport, N.Y.) had two touchdown receptions.  Maurice Irby (Freeport, N.Y.) registered 65 yards on the ground and also tallied touchdown.

Defensively, Ryan Byrne (Buffalo, N.Y.) tallied a game-high 12 stops, while James Holly-Grisham (Rochester, N.Y.) recorded seven tackles, forced a fumble, and added an interception.

The visitors opened up the scoring midway through the first quarter as Lefflbine lofted seven-yard pass to Simmon in the corner of the endzone, capping off a nine-play, 69 yard drive that lasted just over four minutes.

Just two plays later, Eglintine answered right back for the Pride, finding room up the right seam and scampering 73 yards to pay dirt to even the game at 7-7.  St. Lawrence responded with another score on the next drive as Lefflbine punched in a fourth and goal from the two yard line with 5:26 left in the quarter.

After a Nacewicz sack pinned the Saints on their two yard line, Springfield benefited from great field position, starting at the Saints 29. Seven plays later, Eglintine ducked behind his offensive line from a yard out to make it at 14-all contest with 10:55 remaining in the first half. 

However, St. Lawrence would score 17 unanswered points over the next 15-plus minutes to take a commanding 31-14 advantage.  St. Lawrence made Springfield pay for a turnover inside their own 10 yard line as Andrew Carvalho (Somerville, Mass.) knocked in a 20-yard field goal to put the Saints ahead for good with 6:50 on the clock.  In their final drive of the first half, a 52-yard punt return from Holly-Grishman set up an 18-yard scoring strike from Lefflbine to Gallagher across the middle with just 15 seconds remaining, sending the hosts into the locker room with a 24-14 cushion.

On the opening drive of the third quarter, Simmon won another jump ball in the end zone, this time from a yard out to put the exclamation point on a eight-play, 47-yard drive that lasted 4:27.

Eglintine found the end zone for the third time on the afternoon two plays later as he cashed in on another long run, this time from 68 yards, to pull the Pride within 31-21 with 9:48 left in the third.

The Saints sealed the game with fifth touchdown of the afternoon after Matt Gardiner (Cheshire, Conn.) worked his way free for Lefflbine to find him in the middle of the end zone for a 10 yard score with 9:09 on the clock.

Springfield will next play on Saturday, November 7 at Rensselaer.  Game time is set for 12:00 pm.