NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Catholic University's Nico Casares threw for a touchdown and ran for another, as the Cardinals used a balanced ball control attack to defeat Coast Guard 24-17 on Cadet Memorial Field in New London, Connecticut on Homecoming Weekend. 

With the win the Cardinals improve to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), while the Bears fall to 2-5 and remain winless in the NEWMAC at 0-3.

Catholic amassed 346 yards of total offense on the day with Casares going 32/40 passing and totaling 209 yards in the air. Kevin Licciardi paced the Cardinals running attack with 83 yards on 17 carries, including a 3 yard touchdown run.

On their opening drive Catholic marched 80 yards on 12 plays, with Casares running it in from nine yards out to give the Cardinals an early 7-0 lead. Later in the first half, Jared Colletti entered the end zone on a 12 yard pass from Casares and the Cardinals pushed their lead to 14-0.

Coast Guard answered back in a big way as they scored two touchdowns in a 55 second span. Senior Spencer McMillion scored on a 1-yard rush with 1:09 remaining in in the half to cut the lead in half after a Finnegan Hall PAT. The Bears defense then recorded a three and out and the Coast Guard offense took over at their own 33-yard line.

It took the Bears just 21 seconds to get back into the end zone as the drive was capped off by a Joey Armentrout 27-yard touchdown pass to first-year Broock Desta to tie things up going into the half. 

In the second half Catholic took advantage of a 30-yard punt return by Malachi Hansen that set their offense up at the Bears 21-yard line. Coast Guard's defense was up to the challenge and the Cardinals settled for 35-yard field goal from Fabrizio Reilly, as they regained the lead 17-14. Catholic once again took advantage of a short field as they went 46 yards on nine plays on their subsequent drive with Licciardi running it in from three yards out to give the Cardinals a 10 point advantage.

The Bears added a 24-yard field goal from Hall early in the fourth quarter that made the score 24-17. Coast Guard's offense would get one final shot as Catholic's Reilly missed a 31-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining in the game, but Armentrout's fourth down pass was incomplete and the Cardinals were able to take a knee and end the game.

With their balanced attack Catholic dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball for 37:41. Armentrout was 19/36 for 190 yards and Desta again eclipsed the century mark as he hauled in 8 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Ryan Vigo led the Bears defense, recording 14 tackles and two pass break ups. Sophomore Nico Berrios had eight tackles, as did senior Connor Healy.

Coast Guard has their bye week next Saturday and will be back in action on Saturday, October 29th, 2022, as the Bears hit the road to play MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.