EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The New Jersey City University women's wrestling team, ranked #12 in the preseason National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) top-15 poll, took on another ranked foe on the road today, Sunday, Nov. 14, in #15 East Stroudsburg University for a traditional dual. The Gothic Knights, led by a pair of pins at 116 and 191 pounds, defeated the Warriors by a score of 24-22, coming from behind in the day's final match to win it in dramatic fashion. This was the first-ever dual match victory in program history.

NJCU (1-0) fell behind early after falling due to default at 101 pounds, making the score 5-0 in favor of East Stroudsburg (1-1). However, the Gothic Knights trimmed it to 5-4 following a 10-0 technical fall victory by sophomore Johnae Drumright (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) at 109 pounds. Then, moving up to 116 pounds for the day, freshman Izabella Frezzo (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional) put Jersey City up 9-5 with the first win by fall of her career, just 0:49 into the match to make it 9-5 overall.

ESU tied it up next at 123 pounds with a 10-0 tech fall win of its own, making it 9-9. Then, with sophomore All-American 130-pounder co-captain Naomi Henry (Brooklyn, N.Y./Wingate), the preseason #6 grappler in the nation, on the mat, NJCU proceeded to regain the lead at 13-9 with a 12-0 technical fall victory 1:06 into the second period. In the back-and-forth match, the Warriors re-took the lead with a pin at 136 pounds to make it 14-13. ESU extended its lead to 17-14 following a close 7-6 decision win at 143 pounds.

Freshman 155-pounder Goodness N Mercy Okoro picked up the win by default to make it 19-17, putting the Gothic Knights ahead once again. However, the Warriors proceeded to take back the lead at 22-19 following a first-round pin at 170 pounds with just one match remaining. Enter sophomore co-captain and All-American Sandy Guerrero (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) at 191 pounds, also ranked #6 in the nation in her weight class. Just 1:20 into the first round, she proceeded to pin her opponent for the walk-off 24-22 victory.

Up Next:
Jersey City returns to action for a road tri-match on Saturday, Dec. 4, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Lock Haven, Pa. NJCU first takes on the host, Lock Haven University, followed by a neutral match against Sacred Heart University.