Jan. 28, 2007

FAIRFAX, Va. - Despite earning the same number of victories as its opponent, George Mason (8-6) lost a close nonconference dual wrestling meet with Duquesne (6-9) on Sunday at John Linn Memorial Gym, 20-19.

After falling behind 20-10 when Duquesne's Jared Ricotta pinned Matt Moyer at the 184-pound weight class, the Patriots mounted a comeback, winning the final two weight classes. However, the comeback fell a point short, as redshirt junior Harry Zander's pin fall against Duquesne's Tim Frank at 197 pounds and senior Ryan Kittrick's 1-0 decision against Duquesne's Joe D'Orsie left Mason a point shy of the Dukes' total.

One of the most thrilling matches of the day took place at 141 pounds, where redshirt sophomore Will Powars won by a point against Duquesne's Jayk Cobbs. Powars led Cobbs 5-4 with a minute left in the third and final period when Cobbs scored a takedown to earn two points and take a one-point lead. In danger of losing the match, Powars scored two points off a reversal as time expired to earn a 7-6 victory.

Juniors Joe Coughlin and Randy Oates also won their matches on Sunday. Coughlin earned an 8-3 decision at 125 pounds against Jonathan Bittinger, while Oates scored a major decision victory (17-7) against Ryan Sula at 174 pounds.

George Mason hits the mat again on Saturday, Feb. 3 when it faces two opponents on the road on the same day. The Patriots will wrestle UNC Greensboro at 1 p.m. and Campbell at 7 p.m.

DUQUESNE 20, GEORGE MASON 19
125 - Joe Coughlin (Mason) dec. Jonathan Bittinger (Duquesne), 8-3, 3-0 Mason
133 - Brad Cipriani (Duquesne) maj. dec. Mostafa Ibrahim (Mason), 10-0, 4-3 Duquesne
141 - Will Powars (Mason) dec. Jayk Cobbs (Duquesne), 7-6, 6-4 Mason
149 - Brandon Baldini (Duquesne) dec. Chris Cartella (Mason), 10-5, 7-6 Duquesne
157 - Cody Midlam (Duquesne) maj. dec. Kovash Dastan (Mason), 14-0, 11-6 Duquesne
165 - Rob Dempsey (Duquesne) dec. Dan Cook (Mason), 7-3, 14-6 Duquesne
174 - Randy Oates (Mason) maj. dec. Ryan Sula (Duquesne), 17-7, 14-10 Duquesne
184 - Jared Ricotta (Duquesne) fall Matt Moyer (Mason), 4:25, 20-10 Duquesne
197 - Harry Zander (Mason) fall Tim Frank (Duquesne), 3:22, 20-16 Duquesne
285 - Ryan Kittrick (Mason) dec. Joe D'Orsie (Duquesne), 1-0, 20-19 Duquesne