NEWPORT, R.I. â€" Senior running back Mike Laroche (Berlin, CT) ran for 122 yards on 32 carries and scored four touchdowns that tied a school record to lead Western New England College to a 37-27 victory over Salve Regina University in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division contest.
It was the first win ever for the Golden Bears over the Seahawks in 12 meetings dating back to 1993.
Laroche scored on runs of 8, 1, 3, and 2 yards to help WNEC break a two-game losing streak and match last year's entire win total. It was his seventh career 100-yard game and fourth best of his career. Laroche is fourth on the school's all-time rushing list with 1,872 yards.
WNEC (2-2, 1-1) led 16-7 at halftime thanks to a pair of Laroche touchdowns and a 24-yard field goal by senior Loren Estabrook (Sharon, NH).
The teams traded touchowns before the Golden Bears went ahead 30-13 following a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by freshman Vitaly Dzhenzheruka (Chicopee, MA) with 3:39 remaining in the third quarter.
The Seahawks pulled within 30-27 in the fourth quarter before Laroche scored from two yards out with 3:41 left for the final margin of victory.
Sophomore quarterback Jon Tallerico (Port Chester, NY) completed 9-of-18 passes for 94 yards. Senior Dayne Poirot (Cheshire, MA) averaged 41.3 yards for three punts, two inside the 20.
