Lock Haven, Pa., Feb. 23, 2002 - Penn State and Lock Haven waged a back and forth battle Saturday night before 2,500 fans in Lock Haven's Thomas Fieldhouse before the Lions faltered in the final three weights and fell, 24-14, to the 15th ranked Bald Eagles.

The loss dropped Penn State to 6-11 on the year, while Lock Haven improved to 17-4 with just their fourth win in 28 meetings with Penn State.

The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the dual meet as junior Nate Wachter downed James LaValle, 7-3, in the opening bout at 149 pounds. Penn State then adjusted it's line-up in attempt to gain some advantageous match-ups with the Bald Eagles as the Nittany Lions sent 149-pound freshman Jason Woodall to the mat for the 157-pound bout.

Woodall found No. 3 ranked Jamarr Billman, a former Nittany Lion, to be to much as Billman gained a pin in 2:17 to give Lock Haven the lead at 6-3. However, the mismatched loss at 157 paid off for the Lions in the next two weights as they sent 157-pounder James Woodall and 165-pounder Doc Vecchio to the mat at 165 and 174, respectively. Both posted wins to give Penn State a 9-6 lead.

Woodall downed Chalie Brenneman 14-10 in the 165-pound bout, while Vecchio posted an 8-5 decision over Ed Pawlak at 174.

Lock Haven quickly took back the lead as they sent ranked wrestlers to the mat at 184 and 197. Josh Millard, ranked No. 13, put a major decision victory on Curt Thompson, 12-4, at 184, while No. 16 Avery Zerkle got a slim 4-2 decision over Ryan Cummins.

Trailing 13-9, Penn State got a big pin from heavyweight Pat Cummins as he stuck Tim Boetsch at 6:08 of their bout to put Penn State back ahead, 15-13. Lock Haven jumped right back as No. 19 Trap McCormack downed Justin Kast, 7-2, at 125 pounds for a 16-15 Bald Eagle lead.

Then came perhaps the pivotal match of the night as Lock Haven's Chris Spealler came from a 5-2 deficit to take the lead in the final 28 seconds in his bout with Penn State's Marat Tomaev at 133 pounds. Tomaev tied the bout when Spealler was hit with a penalty point with 12 seconds remaining. The bout went into overtime where Spealler gained the win with a takedown at the 19-second mark. Both wrestlers were hit with an unsportsmanlike penalty following the match, which left the team score at 18-14 going into the final bout.

Penn State sophomore Scott Moore, ranked No. 14, and No. 13 ranked Mike Maney squared off in the final bout and got right after it. The Maney got an early takedown and after a Moore escape took him to his back to seal the match with a pin at the 2:27 mark.

Penn State returns to action tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. (noon) as they take on No. 14 Purdue in the Bryce Jordan Center.

 Lock Haven 24, Penn State 14 149 Nate Wachter (PSU) dec. James LaValle (LHU) , 7-3 0 3 157 JaMarr Billman (LHU) wbf Jason Woodall (PSU), 2:17 6 3 165 James Woodall (PSU) dec. Charlie Brenneman (LHU), 14-10 6 6 174 Doc Vecchio (PSU) dec. Ed Pawlak (LHU), 8-5 6 9 184 #13 Josh Millard (LHU) maj. dec. Curt Thompson (PSU), 12-4 10 9 197 #16 Avery Zerkle (LHU) dec. Ryan Cummins (PSU), 4-2 13 9 HWT Pat Cummins (PSU) wbf Tim Boetsch (LHU) , 6:08 13 15 125 #19 Trap McCormack (LHU) dec. Justin Kast (PSU), 7-2 16 15 133 Chris Spealler (LHU) dec. Marat Tomaev (PSU), 8-6 ot 18* 14* 141 #13 Mike Maney (LHU) wbf #14 Scott Moore (PSU), 2:27 24 14 **Team point deducted from LHU for unsportsmanlike conduct. **Team point deducted from PSU for unsportsmanlike conduct. Paid Attendance: 2500 Official: Randy Gehris Lock Haven : 17-4 overall (6-1 EWL). Penn State : 6-11 overall (3-4 Big Ten).