Mountaineers Fall to No. 21 Hofstra

By Scott Castleman
WVU Sports Information Office

January 6, 2006

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The No. 20-rated West Virginia University wrestling team fell to No. 21 Hofstra, 28-14, in its road opener on Friday, Jan. 6, in Hempstead, N.Y., at the Hofstra University Arena.

Seniors No. 16 Seth Lisa and No. 4 Matt Lebe anchored the Mountaineers (0-2) on the evening with a pair of wins, while sophomore Scott Stuart earned a forfeit. The Pride (3-1-1) claimed seven of the 10 bouts including one fall and four major decisions en route to winning its third home dual meet of the season.

In the evening’s opening bout true freshman Chance Litton lost 14-0 to No. 20 Joe Rovelli in the 184-pound class. The Parkersburg, W.Va., native fell behind 9-0 through the first period after Rovelli scored on a takedown and three different sets of back points. Rovelli increased his lead to 11 on a takedown in the second period and added two back points and a riding point to pull away in the third.

In the 197-pound match junior Jared Villers fell 16-4 to Hofstra’s Chris Weidman. Villers jumped on Weidman early as he scored a takedown and added another pair of points on a near fall to end the first period 4-0. But Weidman answered with 16 unanswered points over the next two periods to get his eighth win of the season. The loss dropped Villers to 9-8 on the season.

The Pride claimed its third consecutive bout when Jon Andriac defeated junior Matt Holsopple 10-5. Andriac took a 5-0 lead through the first period on a takedown and three back points. Holsopple scored a takedown in the second, but a pair of escapes by Andriac kept the deficit at five. The Sharpsville, Pa., native tallied three points in the third period on a takedown and a stalling point, however, a reversal by Andriac and a point for riding time would prove too much to overcome.

The Mountaineers jumped on the board in the 125-pound class when Hofstra chose to forfeit the bout to Stuart.

WVU seemed to garner some momentum from the forfeit as Lisa cruised to a 17-0 technical fall victory over Hofstra’s Jon Fennell. Lisa jumped out to a commanding 8-0 lead through the first period and poured on nine more points in the second. Three back points by the Northampton, Pa., native ended the match before the end of the second period. The Mountaineer win tied the team score at 11-11.

Hofstra’s Charles Griffin pulled the biggest upset of the evening when he knocked off No. 9 Brandon Rader in a stunning 17-8 decision in the 141-pound bout and put the Pride ahead 15-11 in the team score. HU’s No. 2-ranked Jon Masa recorded a fall 1:18 in the 149-pound match against David Jauregui to put his team ahead 21-11.

Lebe would get the final win for WVU in the 157-pound bout against No. 17 James Strouse. After a 1-1 tie through regulation the Jeannette, Pa., native tallied two escapes in the third overtime to earn a 3-1 victory.

Lebe is now 21-2 on the season and 107-30 in his career at WVU.

The Pride earned a 10-5 victory from Chris Vondruska in the 165-pound bout over WVU senior Eric Mullen. No. 4- ranked Mike Patrovich capped off the night for Hofstra by winning a 15-7 decision over Mountaineer freshman Kurt Brenner in the 174-pound match.

The Mountaineers return to action when they travel to Virginia Beach, Va., to compete in the Virginia Duals from Jan. 13-14.

Match Results
125: Scott Stuart (WVU) FORFEIT
133: No. 16 Seth Lisa (WVU) TECH Jon Fennell (HU), 17-0
141: Charles Griffin (HU) MAJOR No. 9 Brandon Rader (WVU), 17-8
149: No. 2 Jon Masa (HU) FALL David Jauregui (WVU), 1:18
157: No. 4 Matt Lebe (WVU) DEC No. 18 James Strouse (HU), 3-1 sv
165: Chris Vondruska (HU) DEC Eric Mullen (WVU), 10-5
174: No. 4 Mike Patrovich (HU) MAJOR No. 11 Kurt Brenner (WVU), 15-7
184: N0. 15 Joe Rovelli (HU) MAJOR Chance Litton (WVU), 14-0
197: Chris Weidman (HU) MAJOR Jared Villers (WVU), 16-4
HWT: Jon Andriac (HU) DEC Matt Holsopple (WVU), 10-5

Referee: Umberto Fasolino
Attendance: 812




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