Lincoln, NE -- The 13th ranked Pride of Hofstra gave away six points on a
forfeit of a weight class and that proved to be the difference as #3
Nebraska edged the Pride in the 2004-05 season opener Friday night at the
Devaney Sports Center.
After seven matches, Nebraska was down 17-12 to Hofstra, but at 149 pounds,
No. 4 Travis Shufelt came back from two three-point deficits to defeat No. 5
John Masa 10-8. Shufelt notched a two-point near-fall with 10 seconds left
to snatch the lead, then added a point for his 1:53 advantage in riding
time.
That started a three-match winning streak for the Huskers. No. 6 B.J. Wright
ran off six points in the third period to clinch an 8-2 decision over James
Strouse in the 157-pound match.
Then at 165 pounds, No. 5 Jacob Klein defeated Chris Vondruska 4-2 to close
out the Pride and give Nebraska the victory.
The dual started with Hofstra's 174-pound Paul Siemon, ranked 12th,
defeating NU's Kyle Gubbels 9-0.
At 184 pounds, No. 7 Travis Pascoe gave the Huskers their first win of
the night with a 7-4 win over Joe Rovelli. Pascoe stormed back from a
3-2 deficit with forty seconds to go in the second period with five
unanswered points. Rovelli earned one extra point for his 1:11 advantage in
riding time.
In one of two matchups in the dual featuring a pair of ranked wrestlers,
Hofstra's Chris Stretkowicz, ranked sixth at 197 pounds, defeated No. 8 B.J.
Padden, 12-7.
Mitch Manstedt, making his return to varsity action since suffering a knee
injury early last season, earned a victory by forfeit in the heavyweight
division.
No. 7 Matt Keller, making his varsity debut at 125 pounds, defeated Dave
Tomasette 6-4. At 133 pounds, Hofstra's Charles Griffin pinned Dominick
Moyer with 33 seconds left in the first period. Ricky LaForge earned the
Pride their fourth win of the night with an 11-1 major decision victory over
Chris Nedens at 141 pounds, before NU won the last three matches of the
dual.
"It was a little closer than we would have liked, but Hofstra is a good,
well-coached team," NU Coach Mark Manning said. "It was a good, hard-fought
match, and we'll get better."
The Pride will compete in the Omaha Open on Saturday before returning home
to prepare for their home opener on Sunday, November 28th against
second-ranked Lehigh at the Hofstra Arena. Match time is 5 p.m.
No. 3 Nebraska 21, No. 13 Hofstra 17
174 - #12 Paul Siemon (HU) by major decision over Kyle Gubbels (NU), 9-0
184 - #7 Travis Pascoe (NU) by decision over Joe Rovelli (HU), 7-4
197 - #6 Chris Stretkowicz (HU) by decision over #8 B.J. Padden (NU), 12-7
HWT - Mitch Manstedt (NU) wins by forfeit
125 - #7 Matt Keller (NU) by decision over Dave Tomasette (HU), 6-4
133 - Charles Griffin (HU) by fall over Dominick Moyer (NU), 2:27
141 - Ricky LaForge (HU) by major decision over Chris Nedens (NU), 11-1
149 - #4 Travis Shufelt (NU) by decision over #5 John Masa (HU), 10-8
157 - #6 B.J. Wright (NU) by decision over James Strouse (HU), 8-2
165 - #5 Jacob Klein (NU) by decision over Chris Vondruska (HU), 4-2
