PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Feb. 14, 2014) – Edinboro heavyweight Ernest James has been in big matches throughout his career, and the senior came through once again on Friday night.  His 3-0 decision over P.J. Tasser helped the 14th-ranked Fighting Scots upset sixth-ranked Pittsburgh, marking one of the biggest wins in head coach Tim Flynn's 17-year tenure. Edinboro won on criteria 17-16 after the two former EWL rivals battled to a 16-16 tie.  They tied 5-5 in the first criteria, and 0-0 in the second.  Edinboro finally gained the edge on the third criteria thanks to total match points, with the Fighting Scots prevailing 50-49. 

Edinboro won for the ninth time in the last ten matches to improve to 9-3, while Pittsburgh fell for just the second time, as the Panthers are now 12-2.  The other loss came to Penn State. The Fighting Scots snapped a four-match losing streak to Pitt. 

Edinboro jumped out to a 13-3 lead with wins in four of the first five matches. Back came the Panthers with four straight wins as they grabbed a 16-13 leading heading into the heavyweight match.  That left James, ranked 17th, needing a win over 19th-ranked P.J. Tasser.  James would prevail 3-0, with his riding time point providing the winning match point, as well.  James improved to 22-5 with his 93rd career win.

The match started with Anthony Zanetta (19-6) edging Kory Mines at 125 lbs. in one of five matches that featured a pair of ranked wrestlers.  Zanetta, ranked 19th, jumped out to a 9-5 lead but Mines would rally with an escape and takedown late in the second period to close to 9-8.  He would knot the match at 9-9 late in the third period, but Zanetta had riding time to post the winning point in a 10-9 decision.  Mines, ranked 18th, fell to 19-7.   

A.J. Schopp, ranked second at 133 lbs., renewed his rivalry with Shelton Mack (21-8).  Schopp would improve to 26-1 for the season and 98-12 for his career with a 1-0 decision over Mack, who was ranked 20th. It marked the fifth win in six meetings over Mack, but none have been decided by more than three points.

Top-ranked Mitchell Port remained undefeated at 141 lbs. boosting his record to 22-0 with an 8-2 decision over 17th-ranked Edgar Bright (15-7). Dave Habat followed with a 10-2 major decision over Mikey Racciato (20-10) at 149 lbs. for Edinboro's lone bonus points of the night.  Ranked 15th, Habat is now 22-4. 

Johnny Greisheimer built Edinboro's lead to 13-3 with an 8-1 decision over Cole Sheptock at 157 lbs.  The senior picked up his 90th career win and is now 21-7 on the season.      
Pitt started its comeback at 165 lbs., as Geno Morelli used a late takedown to edge Kasey Burnett-Davis 4-3, dropping Burnett-Davis to 15-9.  Seventh-ranked Tyler Wilps (24-5) followed with an 18-5 major decision over Patrick Jennings (9-10) at 174 lbs.

At 184 lbs., sixth-ranked Max Thomusseit improved to 14-1 with a 4-1 decision over 15th-ranked Vic Avery.  Thomusseit picked up the lone takedown early in the match to drop Avery to 18-4. 

Pitt would regain the lead at 16-13 thanks to Nick Bonaccorsi's 8-2 decision over Vince Pickett at 197 lbs.  Bonaccorsi is ranked 18th and improved to 18-9, while Pickett fell to 17-10. Pickett led early 2-0 but Bonaccorsi scored the final eight points. 

#14 EDINBORO 17, #6 PITTSBURGH 16
Friday, February 14, 2014
Fitzgerald Field House
Pittsburgh, PA
                                                                                                                                                                                
125 lbs. -- #19 Anthony Zanetta (UP) dec. #18 Kory Mines (EU), 10-9                                        
133 lbs. -- #2 A.J. Schopp (EU) dec. #20 Shelton Mack (UP), 1-0                                                   
141 lbs. -- #1 Mitchell Port (EU) dec. #17 Edgar Bright (UP), 8-2                                                   
149 lbs. -- #15 David Habat (EU) maj. dec. Mikey Racciato (UP), 10-2                                         
157 lbs. -- #16 Johnny Greisheimer (EU) dec. Cole Sheptock (UP), 8-1                                      
165 lbs. -- Geno Morelli (UP) dec. Kasey Burnett-Davis (EU), 4-3                                                                
174 lbs. -- #7 Tyler Wilps (UP) maj. dec. Patrick Jennings (EU), 18-5                                           
184 lbs. -- #6 Max Thomusseit (UP) dec. #15 Vic Avery (EU), 4-1                                                 
197 lbs. -- #18 Nick Bonaccorsi (UP) dec. Vince Pickett (EU), 8-2                                                  
Hwt. -- #17 Ernest James (EU) dec. No. 19 P.J. Tasser (UP), 3-0                                                                       
 
First criteria tied, 5-5
Second criteria tied, 0-0
Edinboro wins on third criteria 1-0 thanks to total match points, 50-49; EU wins, 17-16
Criteria explanation - http://awn.theopenmat.com/2013/11/dual-meet-scoring-advisory-criteria-for-settling-dual-meet-ties/

RECORDS:            Edinboro              9-3
                                Pittsburgh           12-2