Hempstead, NY --

Ninth-ranked Nebraska (4-0) won seven of the 10 matches, including two upsets, and defeated 11th-ranked Hofstra (0-1) before 2,264 fans at Hofstra Arena Saturday night.

The top ranked 125-pounder in the nation, Nebraska senior Jason Powell, opened the contest with a 4-2 victory over ninth-ranked Tom Noto following an escape and a takedown in the third period. Hofstra junior Ricky LaForge, ranked 13th, tied the match with a 10-9 decision over red-shirt freshman Matt Keller in the 133 pound bout.

But Nebraska would win the next three matches, first with a unranked junior Matt Murray posting a 4-1 victory over Hofstra freshman John Manarte at 141 pounds. Then junior Travis Shufelt, ranked seventh, pinned Pride freshman James Strouse at the 3:14 mark of the 149 pound match. Cornhusker junior B.J. Wright, ranked 17th, posted the first upset of the night by defeating 12th-ranked Pride senior Paul Siemon, 8-6 in overtime with a takedown with 14 seconds into the extra period.

Hofstra's 13th-ranked senior Ralph Everett brought Hofstra back to within nine (15-6) with a 5-3 decision at 165 pounds over 17th-ranked Jacob Klein. Hofstra senior Noel Thompson, ranked eighth, brought Hofstra to within five points with a 18-9 major decision at 174 pounds over unranked senior Jason High. That would be Hofstra's last victory of the night.

Nebraska junior Travis Pascoe, ranked fifth at 184 pounds, defeated Hofstra senior Brad Christie, who is ranked 13th, by tech fall, 21-6. 13th-ranked B.J. Padden pulled the big upset of the night by pinning second-ranked Hofstra junior Chris Skretkowicz at the 2:29 mark at the 197 pound match.  In the contest finale that featured two unranked heavyweights, Nebraska senior Nathan McClain defeated Hofstra freshman Cole Merryman 15-5.

 

Wt.         Result                                                                                                                          HU-NU

125          #1 Jason Powell (NU) dec. #9 Tom Noto (HU), 4-2                                                   0-3

133          #13 Ricky LaForge (HU) dec. Matt Keller (NU), 10-8                                                3-3

141          Matt Murray (NU) dec. John Manarte (HU), 4-1                                                         3-6

149          #7 Travis Shufelt (NU) pinned James Strouse (HU) at 3:14                                          3-12

157          #17 B.J. Wright (NU) dec. #12 Paul Siemon (HU) in OT, 8-6                                     3-15

165          #13 Ralph Everett (HU) dec. #12 Jacob Klein (NU), 5-3                                            6-15

174          #8 Noel Thompson (HU) major dec. Jason High (NU), 18-9                                     10-15

184          #5 Travis Pascoe (NU) dec. #13 Brad Christie (HU) by Tech Fall (21-6)                  10-20
197          #13 B.J. Padden (NU) pinned #2 Chris Skretkowicz (HU) at 2:29                            10-26

HWT      Nathan McClain (NU) dec. Cole Merryman (HU), 15-5                                            10-30

The Pride is next in action on December 6, when it hosts the University of Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m.