The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football team will face nationally ranked No. 11/12 Ithaca College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Ithaca on Saturday at 12 p.m. The Corsairs are making their second-ever appearance in NCAA's and first since 2002 after finishing the year 9-1 (8-0 MASCAC) and winning the conference championship with a 46-21 win at Plymouth State.
The Corsairs possess the 15th highest powered offenses in the nation, averaging 42.1 points per game. Junior QB Dante Aviles-Santos is fifth in the nation in passing yards (2,940), eighth in passing yards per game (294.0), eighth in total offense (312.4) and 16th in passing TD's (26). Sophomore WR Angel Sanchez leads the nation in receiving yards per game (138.0) and is ninth in receiving yards (1,104) despite only playing eight games. Senior RB Luis Gonzalez is 18th in the country with 14 rushing touchdowns.
UMass Dartmouth has the best defense in the MASCAC, allowing only 18.8 points per game, 246.7 yards per game and 11 team interceptions. Senior Josh Lacerte and sophomore Sam Alicea lead the team with seven sacks each, while 5th-year senior Javien Delgado leads the way with 52 tackles on the year.
The Bombers are 10-0 and are making their first appearance in the tournament since 2014. Ithaca was outright champions of the Liberty League for the first time in program history and finished out its first undefeated regular season since 1986 with a 34-17 victory over No. 9/11 SUNY Cortland in the 63rd Cortaca Jug Game at Yankee Stadium in front of 40,232 fans.
UMass Dartmouth and Ithaca have played each other once in 2004 - the ECAC Northwest Championship - which ended in a 36-19 win for Ithaca.
The winner of this matchup will move onto the second round to play the winner of Endicott and Springfield.
Original source can be found here.
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