DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University wrestling team won six matches on the night, but came up just short of victory as it was narrowly edged by visiting SUNY Cortland, 24-22, on Friday night.

The Aggies (1-3) had to forfeit six points at 125 pounds, but came back with two big wins at 133 and 141 pounds.

Russell Benson needed a takedown in the opening seconds of overtime to earn his seventh victory of the season with a 7-5 decision. Benson held a 4-3 advantage going into the third period, but surrendered a reversal in the final stanza and had to escape to tie the score and send it to an overtime period. In the extra session, he completed a successful takedown to give the Aggies three points.

Rob Duxbury followed with an 8-0 major decision at 141 pounds. Duxbury held a 2-0 lead going into the third and got a late takedown, plus four back points, to complete the major decision and make it a 7-6, DelVal lead after three matches.

The Red Dragons (5-5) earned 18 points over the next three weight classes with a forfeit and two pins. Zack Zupan earned a fall over Chris Richardson at 157 pounds and Charlie Spada pinned Anthony Snyder late in the third period to make it a 24-7 score in favor of SUNY Cortland.

The Aggies fired back with four straight victories and nearly completed the comeback. Kyle Hillermeier took Charlie Buckley into overtime tied, 3-3, and the freshman got inside for a takedown to earn the 5-3 decision.

At 184 pounds, Anthony Costanza built an early 6-3 lead after one period and rolled to a 10-4 decision to pull DelVal to within nine points, 24-13.

The 197 pound bout featured Steve Horvath for the Aggies and the senior sealed his 5-2 decision with a late takedown in the third period.

Heavyweight Oscar Daniels did all he could in the final match of the evening. Facing Ben Klei, Daniels never trailed in the bout, and late in the third period, he flipped his opponent to his back for a fall with just 44 ticks on the clock, but the Aggies came up just short on the scoreboard as the visiting Red Dragons escaped with the 24-22 victory.

DelVal will be back in action with a quick turnaround as it hosts Ithaca College tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.
 
SUNY CORTLAND 24, DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY 22
125 – Rick Chastine (CORTLAND) by forfeit (6-0 CORT)
133 – Russel Benson (DelVal) by dec. Matt Maquet; 7-5 OT (6-3 CORT)
141 – Rob Duxbury (DelVal) by maj. dec. Alex D'Angelo; 8-0 (7-6 DELVAL)
149 – C.J. Labate (CORTLAND) by forfeit (12-7 CORT)
157 – Zack Zupan (CORTLAND) by fall Chris Richardson; 2:20 (18-7 DELVAL)
165 – Charlie Buckley (CORTLAND) by fall Anthony Snyder; 4:23 (24-7 CORT)
174 – Kyle Hillermeier (DelVal) by dec. Charlie Buckley; 5-3 OT (24-10 CORT)
184 – Anthony Costanza (DelVal) by dec. Kevin Morgans; 10-4 (24-13 DELVAL)
197 – Steve Horvath (DelVal) by dec. Mark Rivera; 5-2 (24-16 DELVAL)
HWT – Oscar Daniels by fall Ben Klei; 6:16 (24-22 CORT)