Daniel D'Agostini	Ian Evans

Results

The University of Scranton wrestling team entered its final match in Saturday's Electric City Duals with an opportunity to successfully defend its home turf. The Royals accomplished that goal, but not without a little drama at the very end.

The Royals defeated Oneonta State on a tiebreaker to finish the event 4-0 and claim the title in the event they've hosted in the Long Center since 2009. Sophomore Daniel D'Agostini (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) was named Most Outstanding Wrestler after his dramatic pin at 184 pounds turned out to be the most important win of the day.

Scranton and Oneonta State both entered the final bout with perfect 3-0 records. The Royals jumped out to a 16-6 lead midway through the match after senior Ian Evans (Laurys Station, Pa./Parkland) earned a 9-3 decision at 157 pounds to become the second wrestler in Scranton history to reach 100 career victories. He joins Darren Buseman, who posted 125 victories from 1999 to 2003.

But the Red Dragons rallied with a major decision and a decision to close within 16-13 heading into the 184-pound match. In that match, D'Agostini trailed 6-4 after two periods before rallying to tie the match at 7 midway through the third. Then, he caught his opponent off balance, took him down and pinned him all in one motion for a critical six points to give the Royals a 22-13 lead.

Oneonta State won the 197-pound match by decision, then took the 285-pound match by pin to tie the score at 22. Each team had five victories and two pins, which are the first two tiebreakers. The third tiebreaker – total points in decisions, major decisions and technical falls – favored the Royals, 35-29, giving them the victory and meaning D'Agostini's dramatic pin was the critical point in the match.

The 4-0 day was noteworthy for one other reason – it marks the second time in school history and the first since the 1986-87 season in which the Royals have opened the season 5-0 in dual match competition.

The Royals (5-0) opened the day by putting the clamps on Temple, 37-6. Junior Nicholas DePierro (Manalapan, N.J./Freehold) had a pin at 125 pounds, as did freshman Nicholas Ciaccia (Freehold, N.J./Howell) at 133 and freshman John Sheedy (Somerset, N.J./Bishop George Ahr H.S.) at 149.

Scranton also posted a 29-9 win over Castleton as Ciaccia posted a pin at 133 pounds and senior Salvatore Montuori (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) had a pin at 285. The Royals also received major decisions from Evans, 12-1 at 157, and Sheedy, 15-2 at 149.

And the Royals used a 53-3 win over Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) to set up the showdown with Oneonta State. In the win over UMBC, Ciaccia, Evans and Montuori had pins, as did sophomore Andrew Gombas (Warren, N.J./Bound Brook) at 165.

Evans, Sheedy and freshman T.J. Conlon (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) all finished the day with 4-0 records, with Conlon doing his work at 141 pounds. Ciaccia had three wins, all by pin, and DePierro, D'Agostini, Montuori and freshman 197-pounder Keegan Connelly (Schnecksville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) each posted three victories.

The Royals will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 19, when they travel to Westminster, Md. to take part in the Green Terror Duals at McDaniel College.

--ROYALS--