JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The sixth-ranked West Liberty University wrestling team dropped its season-opening dual at #11 Pitt-Johnstown this evening by a score of 28-9.

"It was not a good result on the scoreboard and just overall will to make it go our way," said Head Coach Danny Irwin. "We had our fair share of opportunities and didn't capitalize. However, everything takes time and our program needs to align all of our decisions towards the type of results that we say we want."

Top-ranked Cole Laya got the Hilltoppers off to a 3-0 lead by battling out a 1-0 win thanks to a second period escape in the match-opening 125 bout.

Vincent Scollo was tied at two after two periods, then quickly took the lead with an early third-round escape and sealed the deal with a takedown making it 5-2, getting the Black and Gold up 6-0 two matches in. "It was great getting (Vincent) out there, his pace was exciting and it is going to lead to him lighting the scoreboard up this season," said Coach Irwin.

After West Liberty's two ranked wrestlers to start the dual, Pitt-Johnstown had a string of four straight ranked players from 141-165 and won all four, featuring a major decision and injury default, to take back control and go up 16-6.

Jonah Smith came out firing at 157 with a takedown and near fall to go up four points seconds into the match against his #4 ranked opponent, but a late comeback by UPJ's Nate Smith gave the Mountain Cats three more points. WLU's Smith extended the early lead to 6-0 and then went into the second round ahead 7-3. He fought off late takedowns in the first and second periods to hold a 7-4 advantage with two minutes left. The Mountain Cats' Smith fought back to force overtime at 10-10 and then took the bout with a takedown.

Fourth-ranked Ty McGeary got West Liberty back on the board at 184 after Alec Cook got edged out 4-3 at 174. McGeary and 12th ranked Brock Biddle were tied after periods two and three sending the match to overtime. The nationally-ranked battle ended with a McGeary takedown shortly into the overtime period to secure the win. "That was a couple of All-Americans slugging it out in the season opener and was fun to watch," said Coach Irwin. "Ty finished how he started the match by being the aggressor."

Pitt-Johnstown finished the dual off with a 5-2 decision at 197 and an upset pin in the finale.

West Liberty will be back in action this Saturday at the Mount Union Invitational.

Follow Hilltopper wrestling all season online at HilltopperSports.com as well as on Twitter (@wluwrestling | @wlathletics), Instagram (@wluwrestling | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.

#6 West Liberty vs. #11 Pitt-Johnstown
125 lbs.  #1 Cole Laya (WLU)  Decision  Trevon Gray (UPJ)  1-0  3-0 WLU
133 lbs.  #7 Vincent Scollo (WLU)  Decision  Byron Daubert (UPJ)  5-2  6-0 WLU
141 lbs.  #10 Caleb Morris (UPJ)  Major Decision  Khyvon Grace (WLU)  10-2  6-4 WLU
149 lbs.  #2 Jacob Ealy (UPJ)  Injury Default  Greg Brusco (WLU)  3:34  10-6 UPJ
157 lbs.  #4 Nate Smith (UPJ)  Decision  Jonah Smith (WLU)  12-10 SV  13-6 UPJ
165 lbs.  #12 Dillon Keane (UPJ)  Decision  Chase Morgan (WLU)  6-1  16-6 UPJ
174 lbs.  Alex Weber (UPJ)  Decision  Alec Cook (WLU)  4-3  19-6 UPJ
184 lbs. #4 Ty McGeary (WLU)  Decision  #12 Brock Biddle (UPJ)   8-6 SV  19-9 UPJ
197 lbs.  Dakoda Rodgers (UPJ)  Decision  Parker Bentley (WLU)  5-2  22-9 UPJ
285 lbs.  Isaiah Vance (UPJ)  Fall  #6 Francesco Borsellino (WLU)  5:21  28-9 UPJ