Belmont Abbey rallied from 17-10 deficit by winning the final two matches, including a pin by Tim Stanton in the 197-pound bout, to pull out a 19-17 win over the UNC Pembroke Braves Saturday evening in the dual meet opener for both sides.
The loss snapped a five-match series winning streak for UNCP (0-1) who also fell in its season-opening dual meet for the first time since the 1998-99 season. Belmont Abbey (1-0) keyed their first win over the Braves with the win by fall, as well as a major decision in the 125-pound bout that opened the night.
Fourth-ranked Chris Neidermeier gave the Crusaders an early advantage by posting a 13-0 major decision in his 125-pound match-up with John Thomas, but the Braves leaned on riding time in each of the next two contests to take a 6-4 advantage into the 149-pound bout.
Down 10-9 in the 133-pound bout, junior Mike Nash used a riding time point to force overtime, and then ended any doubt by posting a takedown nearly 20 seconds into the first overtime period. Brandon Bradley would use his riding time point a short time later to eek out a 2-1 decision over Apollo Jean-Paul in the 141-pound match.
The Braves cushioned their advantage out to 12-7 on close decisions in the 157-pound and 165-pound matches, respectively, before the Abbey cut into the lead on David Hoggard’s 12-6 decision over John Goodwin at 174 pounds.
Derek Garris (2-2) stormed out to a 12-0 lead over Joe Kent to ease out a 21-6 major decision in the third period, but Stanton helped the Crusaders respond with his second period pin of Timmy Allen, to pull the Abbey within one point at 17-16. Justin Moriarty would finish off the comeback win with a 9-4 decision over Chad Davis in the heavyweight match-up to seal the 19-17 win.
Belmont Abbey will continue the dual meet portion of its season on November 29 at Spartanburg Methodist.
Belmont Abbey 19, UNCP 17
125 - #4 Chris Neidermeier (BAC) DEC John Thomas (UNCP) M 13-0
133 – Mike Nash (UNCP) DEC Reimark Neidermeier (BAC) D 12-10
141 – Brandon Bradley (UNCP) DEC Apollo Jean-Paul (BAC) D 2-1
149 – Issac Banks (BAC) DEC Dennis Fix (UNCP) D 6-1
157 – Rashaad Saunders (UNCP) DEC Brandon Doyle (BAC) D 6-5
165 – J.J. Davis (UNCP) DEC Phil Bliss (BAC) D 3-1
174 – David Hoggard (BAC) DEC John Goodwin (UNCP) D 12-6
184 – Derek Garris (UNCP) WBTF Joe Kent (BAC) TF 21-6; 6:18
197 – Tim Stanton (BAC) WBF Timmy Allen (UNCP) F 4:18
285 – Justin Moriarty (BAC) DEC Chad Davis (UNCP) D 9-4