Looking to build on their successful 5-5 season last season, after the program being on a 5 year hiatus, the Chargers finished in a tie for fifth with a 4-4 conference record with Stonehill. They will continue to work at moving up the conference standings. Expectations will be high with Coach Rossomando saying that they had a good spring practice to be prepared for the first game of the season, against Seton Hill (Pa).
With the leaders on defense back, the Chargers look to continue to grow with experience and look to have the ability not to have to lean on their offense to win games. With the transfer of former University of Connecticut defensive tackle Scott Schaultz, 6-4 290, the defense will be better against the run. Another transfer, in Charlie Hatchett, an inside linebacker from Santa Monica Community College, will also make an impact on the defense this season. The defense will return everyone that played significant time last season and is currently ranked eighth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 31.9 points per game. That number will have to decrease, but is expected from a new defense with all freshmen and sophomores playing. The unit will continue to improve with the experience of taking their first trip though the conference and build on that this season.
With Ryan Osiecki back, he will look to become one of the top quarterbacks in the conference, with most of his primary weapons back from last season. Last season, he threw for 2,825 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Those receivers include Sharieff Hall, eight touchdowns, and Demetrius Washington-Ellison, seven touchdowns. Additions to the tight end position and some new wide receivers, Roshawn Wilson will also provide an added dimension to the passing game. The running backs will be looking to become more consistent as Mike Decaro is coming off an injury and the other backs Josh Smart, 278 yards, Victor Jones, 169 yards, and Andrew Nass, 169 yards, will be able to form a good stable of running backs to help balance out the offense. Those guys will fight for carries if DeCaro is placed back into the starting lineup heading out of fall camp, which was where he was last season before the injury.
Posting a 5-5 season, in the first season back in five years, will have to be considered a success. Coach Rossomando will look for his Chargers to continue to climb in the Northeast-10 conference. Having a couple of close losses last year to some of the conference top teams can be considered a positive indicator that the Chargers are on the right track to contend for the conference title in the coming years. New Haven starts the season on the road at Seton Hill, the first weekend of September. The following week will be the home opener with Lincoln University (Pa.).
The conference schedule opens the third week of the season with a home game versus Assumption College. Also, the Chargers will look to avenge last season 31-10 loss at Assumption. The Chargers find themselves on the road for the next two against Bentley on Friday, September 24 and Stonehill the first Saturday in October. The following week, the Chargers take on cross town rival Southern Connecticut. The remaining games alternate between home and away against AIC, Merrimack, Pace, and the season finale against St. Anselm.
