Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton (5-6, 3-1 EIWA) won six bouts and used a pair of bonus-point wins to forge a 22-14 victory over visiting Drexel (4-7, 1-1 EIWA) in an EIWA match Friday night at West Gym. The match began a weekend homestand that wraps up on Sunday when the Bearcats host Penn at 1 p.m.

Senior 125-pound David White, ranked No. 27 in the NCAA Coaches' Panel, gave BU a quick 6-0 lead with a second-period pin. Then the Bearcats shrugged off some setbacks in the middle weights and rattled off five consecutive wins to end the match. 

"The guys did a great job tonight," head coach Matt Dernlan said. "Right out of the gate David (White) set the tone with his pin. He established momentum, dictated the action and when he had the opportunity to secure bonus points he did it."

After White's win, Drexel responded with four straight wins to take a 14-6 lead. 

Redshirt freshman Zack Zupan got the comeback started with a 7-2 decision at 165. Zupan (14-11) snapped a 2-2 tie early in the third period with an escape and then added two takedowns for the final cushion.

At 174, freshman Steven Schneider scored a key decision, working the edge of the mat for a takedown 38 seconds into overtime and a 4-2 win.

From there, BU's upper weights flexed their muscle. Junior 184-pound Jack McKeever built three minutes of riding time in his 5-1 decision. Ranked No. 31 in the NCAA Coaches' Panel, McKeever improved to 15-7 overall. 7-4 in duals. Senior 197-pound Caleb Wallace then used a five-point second period to post an 8-0 major decision. Wallace had a takedown and back points and added another takedown and riding time in the third to give BU a 19-14 lead. Senior heavyweight Tyler Deuel, ranked No. 22, finished off the win with a comfortable 7-1 decision. He raised his record to 15-4 overall, 9-2 in duals.

"Schneider's match was a huge swing match for us," Dernlan said. "Our backs were against the wall. Steven's been grinding it and he found a way to get it done. That was a big, mature win for a true freshman. I'm most proud of Caleb (Wallace), though. he was pretty down all week after the Columbia match and he carried that repsonsibility all week and I was proud that he not only got the win tonight for himself, but got a major decision. That put the match away and took the pressure off Tyler. It was great showing by our upper weights." 

On Sunday, Binghamton will see the fourth-ranked team in the EIWA in the Quakers.

"Penn is one of the top three or four teams in the EIWA and we'll have to have our best effort," Dernlan said. "In his league there aren't any easy wins ... you have to fight for every match. That's what we want and that's why we came into the EIWA. We want to be battle-tested for the end of the year."

Binghamton 22, Drexel 14
125    No. 27 David White (BU) WBF Eric Ochoa (D), 3:53 (BU 6, Drexel 0)    
133    No. 15 Kevin Devoy Jr. (D) TF Joe Nelson (BU), 17-0, 5:58 (BU 6, Drexel 5)
141    David Pearce (D) dec. Dylan Caruana (BU), 12-5 (Drexel 8, BU 6)
149    No. 22 Matthew Cimato (D) dec. Colton Perry (BU), 5-1 (Drexel 11, BU 6)
157    Noel Blanco (D) dec. Vincent DePrez (BU), 6-3 (Drexel 14, BU 6)
165    Zack Zupan (BU) dec. Nick Elmer (D), 7-2 (Drexel 14, BU 9)
174    Steve Schneider (BU) dec. Stephen Loiseau (D), 4-2 (sv1) (Drexel 14, BU 12)
184    No. 31 Jack McKeever (BU) dec. Alex DeCiantis (D), 5-1 (BU 15, Drexel 14)
197    Caleb Wallace (BU) major dec. Joshua Murphy (D), 8-0 (BU 19, Drexel 14)
Hwt    No. 22 Tyler Deuel (BU) dec. Joey Goodhart (D), 7-1 (BU wins 22-14)

Rankings are Jan. 22 NCAA Coaches' Panel