MECHANICSBURG (Pa.) -- Sophomore Austin Williams earned a win by fall and Russell Benson won by decision, but it was not enough as the Delaware Valley University men's wrestling team fell in its second match of the season against host Messiah University, 42-9. 

The Aggies surrendered 12 points by forfeit in the first two weight classes, but bounced back at 141 pounds with Benson grabbing three team points. The sophomore 141-pounder improved to 2-0 this season with a 7-6 decision over Dalton Daugherty. 

After Daugherty got an early takedown, Benson quickly escaped and countered with a takedown to take a one-point lead going into the second. Daugherty got the lone point of the second with an escape and the bout went into the third knotted at 3-3. Benson started on the bottom and escaped for one point and the lead. Late in the period he shot and earned a takedown, but Daugherty quickly reversed for two points of his own and a 6-6 tie with 15 seconds remaining. With time winding down, Benson was able to escape and hold on for the 7-6 victory. 

The next five matches fell in favor of the home team with four coming by way of fall. The 174-pound match was a hard fought dual between DelVal junior Youssef Ait Boulahri, who was recently named a contender in the latest D3wrestling.com national rankings, and the Falcons' Brian Shermeyer, ranked seventh in division III. Ait Boulahri had three takedowns over the first two periods and held a 6-5 lead going into the third. Starting on the bottom, Ait Boulahri was able to escape and go up by two, but Shermeyer quickly countered with a takedown to tie the match at 7-7. Though Ait Boulahri was able to get an escape and a one-point lead, Shermeyer sent the bout to overtime with the advantage in riding time. 35 seconds into the extra period, Shermeyer got the takedown and the 8-7 overtime decision. 

Williams impressed at 197 pounds as he turned a reversal into a pin with 21 seconds remaining in the second against Messiah junior Spencer Clements to earn his first win and first pin of the season. 


Messiah 42, Delaware Valley 9
125 - Corey Morabito (Messiah) by forfeit; 6-0 Falcons
133 - Hunter Reinhart (Messiah) by forfeit; 12-0 Falcons
141 - Russell Benson (DelVal) by dec. Dalton Daugherty, 7-6; 12-3 Falcons
149 - Garret Cornell (Messiah) by fall Mike Rubino, 1:58; 18-3 Falcons
157 - Nick Barnhart (Messiah) by fall Zach Zuckerman, 2:45; 24-3 Falcons
165 - Matt Pangle (Messiah) by fall Chris Richardson, 3:28; 30-3 Falcons
174 - Brian Shermeyer (Messiah) by dec. Youssef Ait Boulahri, 8-7 OT; 33-3 Falcons
184 - David Stevens (Messiah) by fall Jake Nase, 4:10; 39-3 Falcons
197 - Austin Williams (DelVal) by fall Spencer Clements, 4:39; 39-9 Falcons
285 - Carter Urich (Messiah) by dec. Dan Eckley (DelVal), 9-3; 42-9 Falcons