HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Hofstra University converted four interceptions into 26 points and held the UMaine offense scoreless Saturday on its way to a 44-0 Atlantic 10 football victory at Shuart Stadium.

The injury-plagued Black Bear offense was shut out for the second straight week and mustered only 135 total yards as they slipped to 2-4 overall, 0-3 in conference action.

UMaine’s offense has now failed to score in 11 of 12 quarters during Atlantic 10 play this season.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s squad must try to regroup for Saturday’s 2 p.m. homecoming game against Massachusetts at Alfond Stadium in Orono.

Hofstra (4-2, 2-1 A-10), which limited Delaware to six points a week earlier, turned in a smothering defensive performance. Linebacker D.J. Talvacchio made two interceptions, returning the first 40 yards for a first-quarter touchdown, and had five tackles.

Without senior tailback Montell Owens and senior tight end Josh Radulski, the UMaine offense wasn’t operating at full strength. And the loss of starting guard Shawn Demaray midway through the game further hamstrung the unit.

The Bears, who earned just nine first downs, managed only 28 net rushing yards. Senior quarterback Ron Whitcomb completed 14 of 29 passes for 98 yards. He was intercepted twice and sacked seven times.

Arel Gordon caught five passes for 31 yards and Jerron Pearson had five receptions for 25 yards to lead UMaine.

The Pride played opportunistic offense and exhibited good balance, passing for 223 yards and rushing for 108. Quarterback Anton Clarkson completed 21 of 37 throws for 202 yards, including scoring passes of 13 yards to Charles Sullivan and 26 yards to Devale Ellis.

Hofstra scored the only points it would need on Rob Zarrilli’s 34-yard field goal with 5:30 left in the first quarter. The hosts snared the momentum in earnest 19 seconds later when Talvacchio stepped in front of a Chris Legree pass and returned it 40 yards to make it 10-0.

Clarkson’s 13-yard TD toss to Sullivan early in the second quarter gave Hofstra a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Bears’ deepest offensive penetration came on their first possession of the second half. They got to the Hofstra 34-yard line, before giving the ball up on downs. UMaine only crossed midfield three times.

Dan Garay’s sack of Whitcomb in the end zone made it 19-0 and a 47-yard TD dash by Kareem Huggins less than two minutes later increased the margin.

Hofstra scored three times in a span of 3:48 in the fourth quarter, all coming as a result of interceptions. Stanley Gutierrez returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring.

Linebacker Jovan Belcher paced the UMaine defense with 12 tackles. Jermaine Walker posted nine, including a sack.

PRIDE 44, BLACK BEARS 0

Maine (2-4) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Hofstra (4-2) 10 7 8 19 – 44

H – Zarrilli 34 field goal

H – Talvacchio 40 interception return (Zarrilli kick)

H – Sullivan 13 pass from Clarkson (Zarrilli kick)

H – Safety, Garay tackled Whitcomb in end zone

H – Huggins 47 run (kick blocked)

H – Ellis 26 pass from Clarkson (Zarrilli kick)

H – Colston 21 pass from Davis (kick blocked)

H – Gutierrez 47 interception return (kick blocked)

Maine Hofstra

First downs 9 16

Rushing att.-yards 29-28 29-108

Passing comp.-att. 16-35 22-38

Passing yards 107 223

Total yards 135 331

Punts-avg. 9-30.0 7-36.7

Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0

Intercepted by 1 4

Penalties-yards 8-60 4-30

Rushing

Maine: Allen 8-20, Legree 7-19, Pearson 2-7, Gordon 1-6, Cotrone 1-(minus 1), Whitcome 10-(minus 23); Hofstra: Huggins 10-60, Momah 6-20, Crenshaw 4-18, Colston 1-7, Parrish 4-7, Clarkson 4-(minus-4)

Passing

Maine: Whitcomb 14-29-2-98, Legree 2-6-2-9; Hofstra: Clarkson 21-37-1-202, Davis 1-1-0-21

Receiving

Maine: Gordon 5-31, Pearson 5-25, McMahan 2-17, Ry. Waller 1-17, Allen 1-8, Fersner 1-6, Cotrone 1-3; Hofstra: Colston 4-58, Ellis 4-52, Sullivan 4-37, Wolman 4-31, Momah 3-7, Sebald 2-31, Crenshaw 1-7

A-7,188