HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 30, 2011) – Freshman heavyweight Tyler Maher (Raleigh, N.C.) pinned sophomore counterpart Leon Bodden (Staten Island, N.Y.) with 53 seconds in the night's final bout to lift the Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team to a remarkable, 19-17, come-from-behind win over Hunter College Wednesday night in Walker Gymnasium. With the win, the 18th-ranked Ducks improve to 5-0 overall. Hunter drops to 2-2 with the loss.
The Ducks fell behind early, dropping decisions at 125 lbs., 133 lbs. and 141 lbs. before sophomore CJ Caserta (Mt. Arlington, N.J.) continued his superb season with a major decision over junior Brady Kwong (Bronx, N.Y.) at 149. A takedown early in the third period and 3:44 of riding time gave Casserta the 9-1 final and the major which proved to play a key role in the outcome. It was also good for his team-high 15th win of the season.
The Ducks dropped their bout at 157 lbs. before junior Joey Favia (Brick,N.J.), the fifth-ranked 165-pounder in NCAA Division III, came through with a win by fall in his match's final minute to cut a 12-4 Hawk lead to two (12-10). Junior Ryan Dormann (Mickelton, N.J.) followed Favia with an 8-2 victory against freshman Luke Pragdat (Mahwah, N.J.) at 174 lbs. to give Stevens its first lead of the night (13-12), erasing what had been a 9-0 deficit.
The Hawks received a pair of big wins at 184 and 197 to open up an 18-13 margin in their favor, but Maher came through when Stevens needed it most in the evening's final bout. After falling behind early in the first, the freshman fought back to knot the bout score at three heading into the second period. Bodden earned one escape for the second stanza's only point, but the Ducks' freshman seemed to take a lot out of Hunter's heavyweight. In period three, Maher took control, getting an escape, a takedown, and three nearfall points before coming up with the huge pin to clinch the match and send Walker Gym into a frenzy.
Hunter earned six bout wins but the Ducks' two falls, one major and one decision was enough for the thrilling victory. One team point was deducted from Hunter's final score immediately following the match due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
Stevens will return to action on December 9 when it hosts New York University in Walker Gym. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. and all the action will be webcast live at www.Empire8.tv.
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Stevens 19, Hunter 17
125 lbs. - Albert (H) def. Geiger (S) by DEC (8-5) (Hunter 3-0)
133 lbs. - Geronal (H) def. Polizzi (S) by DEC (5-0 OT) (Hunter 6-0)
141 lbs. - Messina (H) def. C. Bass (S) by DEC (9-7) (Hunter 9-0)
149 lbs. - Caserta (S) def. Kwong (H) by MAJ DEC (9-1) (Hunter 9-4)
157 lbs. - Cartusciello (H) def. Odell (S) by DEC (12-7) (Hunter 12-4)
165 lbs. - Favia (S) def. Copello-Colon (H) by FALL (6:11) (Hunter 12-10)
174 lbs. - Dormann (S) def. Pragdat (H) by DEC (8-2) (Stevens 13-12)
184 lbs. - Donahue (H) def. Sharkey (S) by DEC (14-9) (Hunter 15-13)
197 lbs. - DeReese (H) def. Moreno (S) by DEC (6-1) (Hunter 18-13)
285 lbs. - Maher (S) def. Bodden (H) by FALL (6:07) (Stevens 19-18)
**Note: Hunter lost one team point immediately following the match due to unsportsmanlike conduct by Head Coach Michael Simmon
