March 7, 2009
Contact: Ryan Mulford
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania - After the first two rounds of the 34th annual EWL conference tournament, the Vikings find themselves in the thick of the race, sitting in fourth place with 45 team points.
Rashard Goff led the Viking charge with a perfect 2-0 record,including his 100th career win.
In his first match, Goff faced off against Roman Husman, whom he beat 12-3 back on January. 31st.
Goff wasted no time shooting in and scoring an early 2-0. After allowing Husman to take him down, Goff escaped and quickly took Husman down again, taking a 5-2 lead into the third period.
Goff continued the pressure throughout the third period, taking Husman down a third time expanding his lead by five at 8-2 and with riding time earned a 10-2 victory.
The win put Goff on a collision course in the semi-final round against Dustin Rogers of West Virginia, who beat Goff 4-1 earlier this season.
Entering the third period, Rogers held a slim one-point lead thanks to an escape point. That lead however, was short lived as Goff started the third period with bottom position and quickly escaped to even the score at one.
Three periods were not enough for these two heavyweights as they took a 1-1 tie into overtime. Goff quickly shot in and scored a single leg takedown capturing a 3-1 sudden victory decision, putting him in the finals against Joe Fendone of Edinboro.
Rob Michaels is still in contention to place with a 1-1 record.
In his first round match Michaels battled Ethan Headlee of Pittsburgh, who pinned Michaels earlier this season in Pittsburgh (1/28).
After allowing Headlee to score a takedown, Michaels was able to escape and secure a cradle scoring near fall points, finishing the second period with a 3-2 lead.
Starting with top position, Michaels was able to ride Headlee out to secure a 3-2 decision.
In his semi-final round match, Michaels took on Donnie Jones of WVU, who beat Michaels 12-8, on February 20. Michaels could only mange an escape point sandwiched in between two takedowns, and trailed by three (4-1) entering the second period.
Michaels started the second period with bottom position and quickly got back to his feet to cut the lead in half (4-2), which was the only scoring of the period.
In the final period, Jones was able to score three points off an escape and takedown, while Michaels managed an escape point losing a close 7-3 decision.
After suffering first round losses, both Antonio Nicholson and Corey Carlo came back with consolation round wins in their respective brackets.
Nicholson avenged an early season 3-1 loss to Mark Powell of Pittsburgh with a pin fall 1:19 into the match.
Carlo had no trouble taking care of business with a 10-4 decision over Phil Sorrentino of Pittsburgh.
Several other Vikings, including Jordan Keller, Josh Palivoda, Lawrence Cavello and JT Miller are also still in contention to place.
The final rounds will resume at 5:00 p.m. in the Thomas Fieldhouse.
