NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Mercyhurst University wrestling team concluded its first day at the East Coast Duals in Newberry, South Carolina with a 1-1 record, losing its opening match against UNC-Pembroke by a 27-21 margin before bouncing back for a 37-12 victory over Anderson. The Lakers are now 9-1 overall on the season.

After opening the season with a perfect 8-0 record, the Lakers suffered their first loss of the season in their opening match against UNC-Pembroke.

The freshman duo of Willie Bohince and Dylan D'Urso spotted the Lakers a 9-0 advantage after the opening two bouts. Bohince went the distance against the Braves' Jake Smith, earning an 11-8 decision to improve to 19-4 on the season. Meanwhile, D'Urso pinned Dontae Brown at the 1:55 mark to give the Lakers six points and a 9-0 cushion. D'Urso improved to 18-3 overall with his third victory by fall this season.

After redshirt sophomore Nick Hannan was pinned in the 141-pound bout by UNC-Pembroke's Daniel Ownbey, the top-ranked wrestler in Super Region I at 141, sophomore Michael Griffith reclaimed a nine-point lead for the Lakers with a pin of Reggie Allen at the 4:51 mark. Griffith leads the Lakers with 10 victories by fall this season and improved to 14-6 with the win.

The Braves would then rattle off three straight victories to take a 21-15 lead. Redshirt junior Tyler Berger suffered just his fourth loss of the season at 157 pounds, losing to Justin Pencook 4-1. Then, redshirt junior Clint Schaefer dropped to 17-4 on the season after getting pinned by the region's #2 wrestler at 165 pounds - Robert Shade. Sophomore Grant Chase also lost by fall in the 174-pound bout, bowing to UNC-Pembroke's Mike Williams.

Redshirt senior Eric Lundgren, fresh off his PSAC Wrestler of the Week award, earned his first pin of the season at 184 pounds, tying the match at 21-21. Lundgren improved to 13-7 on the season with his pin of Jordan Ford five seconds before the first period came to a close.

After senior Seth Stonis suffered a 6-0 loss at 197 pounds, it set up a great finish in the heavyweight bout, which pitted Chris Giddens, Jr. of UNC-Pembroke, the #3 wrestler in the region, and redshirt senior Jeffrey Pollard of Mercyhurst. With the Braves ahead 24-21, the heavyweight bout would be decided by tiebreakers. Giddens would eventually claim the one-point win over Pollard and the Lakers suffered their first loss of the season.

The Lakers dropped to 5-6 lifetime against UNC-Pembroke.

In the nightcap, Mercyhurst jumped out to a 20-0 lead after the opening four matches and cruised to a 37-12 victory over Anderson.

Bohince and D'Urso were at it again in the opening two bouts. Bohince earned a 12-2 major decision victory over Gregory Williams to earn his team-leading 20th victory of the season. D'Urso picked up his team-leading ninth victory by technical fall, defeating Zachary Hale by a 17-2 final.

Junior Ian Abplanalp earned a forfeit victory at 141 pounds, giving the Lakers another six points. Senior Tony D'Urso followed with a 15-0 technical fall victory over Dennis Rhodes. It was the older D'Urso's 11th victory of the season and his second by technical fall.

The Trojans would get on the board with back-to-back wins at 157 pounds and 165 pounds. Junior Ian Grecco suffered a 4-0 loss while Schaefer, who entered with three losses all season, was pinned for the second time on Friday.

Redshirt freshman Angelo Bortoluzzi pinned Jacob Allen at the 1:13 mark in the 174-pound bout to put the Lakers ahead by a 26-9 margin. Bortoluzzi is second on the team, behind Griffith, with seven victories by fall this season. Lundgren would follow with a 21-6 technical fall over Zackery Farmer to increase Mercyhurst's lead to 31-9. Lundgren has now won eight of his last nine matches.

The Trojans' Scott Richardson knocked off redshirt freshman Brian Beattie at 197 pounds before Pollard pinned Zachary Newton in just 51 seconds to close out the match.

Mercyhurst improved to 8-0 lifetime against the Trojans.

Mercyhurst will have three more matches on Saturday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. against Belmont Abbey. The Lakers will conclude the weekend against Ohio Valley at 10:30 a.m. and Limestone at 12:30 p.m.

UNC-Pembroke 27, Mercyhurst 21
125 - Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) decision over Jake Smith (UNCP), 11-8 [MU 3-0]
133 - Dylan D'Urso (Mercyhurst) fall over Dontae Brown (UNCP), 1:55 [MU 9-0]
141 - Daniel Ownbey (UNCP) fall over Nick Hannan (Mercyhurst), 3:44 [MU 9-6]
149 - Michael Griffith (Mercyhurst) fall over Reggie Allen (UNCP), 4:51 [MU 15-6]
157 - Justin Pencook (UNCP) decision over Tyler Berger (Mercyhurst), 4-1 [MU 15-9]
165 - Robert Shade (UNCP) fall over Clint Schaefer (Mercyhurst), 6:36 [15-15]
174 - Mike Williams (UNCP) fall over Grant Chase (Mercyhurst), 2:28 [UNCP 21-15]
184 - Eric Lundgren (Mercyhurst) fall over Jordan Ford (UNCP), 2:55 [21-21]
197 - Brach Walker (UNCP) decision over Seth Stonis (Mercyhurst), 6-0 [UNCP 24-21]
285 - Chris Giddens, Jr. (UNCP) decision over Jeffrey Pollard (Mercyhurst), 4-3 (TB-3) [UNCP 27-21]

Mercyhurst 37, Anderson 12
125 - Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) major decision over Gregory Williams (Anderson), 12-2 [MU 4-0]
133 - Dylan D'Urso (Mercyhurst) technical fall over Zachary Hale (Anderson), 17-2 [MU 9-0]
141 - Ian Abplanalp (Mercyhurst) forfeit win [MU 15-0]
149 - Tony D'Urso (Mercyhurst) technical fall over Dennis Rhodes (Anderson), 15-0 [MU 20-0]
157 - Kevin Johnson (Anderson) decision over Ian Grecco (Mercyhurst), 4-0 [MU 20-3]
165 - Jamal Lackey (Anderson) fall over Clint Schaefer (Mercyhurst), 7:48 [MU 20-9]
174 - Angelo Bortoluzzi (Mercyhurst) fall over Jacob Allen (Anderson), 1:13 [MU 26-9]
184 - Eric Lundgren (Mercyhurst) technical fall over Zackery Farmer (Anderson), 21-6 [MU 31-9]
197 - Scott Richardson (Anderson) decision over Brian Beattie (Mercyhurst), 5-4 [MU 31-12]
285 - Jeffrey Pollard (Mercyhurst) fall over Zachary Newton (Anderson), 0:51 [MU 37-12]