Sughrue, Spartans pin Liberty, 23-15

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Ryan Sughrue recorded a pin in just 24 seconds and UNC Greensboro rattled off six straight wins as they defeated Liberty, 23-15, on Tuesday evening in the Vines Center.

The Spartans improved to 5-6 on the year, while the Flames fell to 7-8 this season with the loss.

The match began at 165 pounds where Liberty’s Chad Porter recorded a 10-3 decision over Victor Hojilla. The Spartans would then go on to win the next six matches starting with Byron Sigmon at 174 pounds. Sigmon scored a takedown and a pair of reversals to win 7-3 over Brad Clark.

Andrew Saunders gave UNCG the lead for good with his 6-2 decision against Nick Knowles. At 197 pounds, Sughrue wasted little time in defeating Brandon Johnson. Sughrue scored a quick takedown and recorded the pin in just 24 seconds to give UNCG a 12-3 team lead.

At heavyweight, Peter Sturgeon continued to pad the Spartan lead as he scored a second period takedown and held on for a 3-2 win over Andrew Wilson. Eric Chandler gave UNCG a 20-3 lead at 125 pounds after he won by technical fall at the 6:19 mark with an 18-3 score over Jonathan Childress.

Casey Boyle continued the Spartan run as he scored an escape and was awarded a penalty point in the third period as he defeated Joe Pantaleo, 3-2. Scott Clymer stopped the Spartan run at 141 pounds where he defeated Ivan Lopouchanski, 5-4.

Frank Gayeski made it back-to-back wins for the Flames as he used a third period reversal to pin Alejandro Soto-Perez with just under a minute remaining in the match at 149 pounds. In the final match, Shaun Smith defeated Travis Sheehy, 6-2, to make the final team score, 23-15.

The Spartans return to the mat on Sunday for a tri-dual in Fairfax, Va. UNCG will face American at 11 a.m. before taking on host George Mason at 12:30 p.m.

UNC Greensboro 23, Liberty 15

165: Chad Porter (Liberty) dec. Victor Hojilla (UNCG), 10-3 (3-0 Liberty)

174: Byron Sigmon (UNCG) dec. Brad Clark (Liberty), 7-3 (3-3)

184: Andrew Saunders (UNCG) dec. Nick Knowles (Liberty), 6-2 (6-3 UNCG)

197: Ryan Sughrue (UNCG) fall Brandon Johnson (Liberty), 0:24 (12-3 UNCG)

285: Peter Sturgeon (UNCG) dec. Andrew Wilson (Liberty), 3-2 (15-3 UNCG)

125: Eric Chandler (UNCG) tech. fall Jonathan Childress (Liberty), 18-3 at 6:19 (20-3 UNCG)

133: Casey Boyle (UNCG) dec. Joe Pantaleo (Liberty), 3-2 (23-3 UNCG)

141: Scott Clymer (Liberty) dec. Ivan Lopouchanski (UNCG), 5-4 (23-6 UNCG)

149: Frank Gayeski (Liberty) fall Alejandro Soto-Perez (UNCG), 6:07 (23-12 UNCG)

157: Shaun Smith (Liberty) dec. Travis Sheehy (UNCG), 6-2 (23-15 UNCG)

Courtesy of David Percival, Assistant Sports Information Director, UNCG