NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA - The Western Connecticut State University football team suffered its first loss of the season as it fell to University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 17-13 at Cressy Field on Saturday night.

The Colonials are now 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Corsairs are now 2-2 overall and are 1-1 as well in the league.

The Corsairs got on the scoreboard first as Abbi Bamgbose scored on a 26-yard reception from Stephen Gacioch at the 7:40 mark of the first quarter.  The extra point from James Tooker gave the host an early 7-0 advantage.

Prior to intermission, sophomore Jordan D'Onofrio (Orange, CT) booted a pair of field goals, the first, a 28 yarder just four seconds into the second stanza and the last, a 27-yarder straight down the middle, as time expired in the first half.  The Colonials went into the recess down by just a point, 7-6.

WestConn took its' first lead of the contest, at the 11:19 mark of the third quarter, when Tariq Odom (Bloomfield, CT) grabbed a toss from senior signal caller Quinn Fleeting (Windsor, CT) and went 73 yards  for the TD.  D'Onofrio convertted the point after for a 13-7 lead.

Odom amassed 116 yards on four catches and the score.

Austin Calamita (North Branford, CT) collected a game-high five receptions for 66 yards.

Fleeting, who has been named MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week, each of the first three weeks, completed 15 of 29 passes for 271 yards and a TD and interception.  His completions, attempts and yards are all season lows.

Khalil Patterson (Hartford, CT) led the Colonials' ground attack with just 41 yards on 12 carries.

Jeremy Jackson hooked up with Gacioch from 10 yards away, at the 13:11 mark of the fourth quarter and the extra try was good to give the Corsairs a 14-13 lead.  That score proved to be the game-winner for the Corsairs.

"Tonight just shows how difficult it is to win on the road in this league," stated WestConn head coach Joe Loth.  "We have to put this one behind us and get ready for Worcester State next Saturday.  It's our Homecoming night so we will have a great crowd and many students and former student-athletes looking for us to get back on track."

Tooker tacked on three insurance points after booting a 31-yard field goal with 6:09 remaining in regulation.

Gacioch completed 15 of 26 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns to lead the winners.  He also amassed 87 yards on 17 carries on Saturday night.

WestConn will celebrate Homecoming Night next Saturday when its hosts Worcester State University at 6 pm.