LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — The New Jersey City University women's wrestling team, ranked #14 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Women's Rankings, competed in a pair of dual matches on the road on Saturday, Dec. 4, against two other top-15 ranked opponents. In a down-to-the-wire match to open the morning, NJCU fell to #11 Sacred Heart University 18-16. In their second match — the third of the day — the Gothic Knights came back late but ultimately fell to host and #15 Lock Haven University, 29-19.

Jersey City jumped out to a 10-0 lead early on against the Pioneers in the first match after three no contests (101, 109, 123) and two wins by forfeit by freshman Victoria Devoto (Ridgefield, N.J./Immaculate Conception) at 116 pounds and sophomore #5-ranked 130-pounder Naomi Henry (Brooklyn, N.Y./Wingate). NJCU dropped one by decision at 136 pounds to make it an 11-3 lead before Sacred Heart notched a pin at 143 and a win by forfeit at 155 to make it a 13-11 match in favor of the Pioneers. Freshman Evie Tahmazian (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) won by forfeit at 170 pounds to put the Gothic Knights ahead 16-13 with one match remaining. Unfortunately, facing her toughest competition of the year in #6 Ashley Reed of Sacred Heart, sophomore #7-ranked 191-pounder Sandy Guerrero (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) was pinned to clinch the 18-16 defeat.

After a match between Lock Haven and Sacred Heart, the Gothic Knights looked to bounce back against the Bald Eagles in the day's final competition. LHU took wins by forfeit in three of the first four matches (101, 109, 123), as well as a tech fall at 116 pounds to make it 19-0 early on. Henry hit the mat once again at 130 pounds and put NJCU on the board with a 10-0 technical fall in the third period to make it 19-4. Lock Haven won by pin at 136 to make it 24-4 and sophomore Lockslea Mayers (Westminster, Md./Westminster) won by forfeit at 143 pounds to make it 24-9. That was followed by a SHU win-by-forfeit at 155 pounds to make it 29-9 before Tahmazian won by forfeit at 170 pounds to make it 29-14. Eager for redemption, Guerrero wasted no time at 191 pounds and pinned her opponent in just 30 seconds to make the final scored 29-19, Lock Haven.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights get another shot at Sacred Heart on Monday afternoon, Dec. 13, when the Pioneers host a tri in Fairfield, Conn., starting at 4:00 p.m. NJCU will also face off with Elmira College in a neutral dual.