Despite a banner day from quarterback Zach Librizzi ’08 and the hope of some late-game heroics, the Wesleyan football team fell for the first time in nine years to Hamilton, losing 24-19 on Saturday.
Wesleyan, after the loss, is 0-2 for the first time since the 1994 season.
Echoing the heroics of last year’s match up with Hamilton, when the Cardinals rallied from 35-19 for the win, Librizzi found Mark Noonan ’07 for a 14-yard score with less than two minutes to go in the game. The points, including an AJ Taucher ’08 PAT, moved the Cardinals to within five. But Hamilton scooped up the onsides kick that followed and managed to run out the clock, running out the Cardinals’ hopes, and as the Bears held on for the win.
After a silent first quarter, Wesleyan opened the scoring when Librizzi found Dan McKenna ’06 for a two-yard scoring pass. However, with a 6-0 lead, the Wesleyan offense lost itself just as the Hamilton Bears awoke. Hamilton’s quarterback Holtslag snuck in for three scores, two in the second quarter and one to start the third. Before the Cardinals could find the end zone again they were looking at a 21-6 deficit.
With five minutes to go in the third, Librizzi found Ryan Walsh ’09, but the two-point conversion failed and Wesleyan trailed 21-12. A Hamilton field goal buoyed their lead to 25-12, before Librizzi found Noonan for his third passing score of the day. But sadly for the Cardinals, it was too little too late.
Librizzi went 25 for 44 on the game, with the three scores and one pick, for 344 yards. Zach Canter ’07, who took over for Librizzi briefly, managed just one completion on four attempts and threw a pair of interceptions.
Noonan led the receiving corps with a 100-yard day and his touchdown on eight receptions.
Leading the Cardinal defense was Adam Maxwell ’06 with eight tackles, seven solo.
Next Saturday, the Cardinals hope to haul in their first win, as they take on Colby at Andrus Field.
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