BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - SIUE wrestling won successive NCAA Division I matches for the first time since the 1991-92 season Saturday with victories over VMI and Northern Colorado.

Wrestling at Indiana's University Gym, the Cougars were victorious in two of three dual matches to start the two-day Hoosier Duals.

SIUE opened the Southern Conference (SoCon) season with a 23-14 win over VMI. The Cougars followed with a 25-17 triumph over Northern Colorado. West Virginia broke SIUE's string with a 27-3 victory over the Cougars. It was the first time SIUE has won back-to-back matches against Division I programs since defeating San Diego State and Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) under Hall of Fame Head Coach Larry Kristoff.

"It was definitely a team effort," said SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates. "We had some strong performances individually."

Dakota Leach got the Cougars started in the day's opening match against VMI. His 9-2 win over Dalton Henderson at 125 pounds was the first of three straight wins for the Cougars. Patrick Myers defeated Mike Flora 13-1, and Drew Vrbenec downed Joe Jarrells 10-0.

VMI matched the Cougars with three straight wins to tie the match 11-11.

Jake Residori put SIUE back into control at 174 pounds with a technical fall over Timmy Davidson 15-0. Deshoun White and Chris Johnson added wins for the Cougars as SIUE went to 1-0 to start the SoCon season.

"Deshoun had two big wins today, and Chris Johnson against Northern Colorado was huge. It was a close match and then he was able to get the pin. That sealed the deal for us."

Myers and Johnson both provided falls in SIUE's win over Northern Colorado. Myers pinned Sonny Espinoza in 1 minute, 29 seconds at 133 pounds. Johnson dismissed Cole Briegle in 5:23 at 197 pounds.

SIUE also earned victories with decisions from Vrbenec, McMahon, and White as well as a major decision by Residori.

Heavyweight David Devine's lost his first two matches by a combined five points but was SIUE's lone winner against West Virginia with a 6-4 decision over A.J. Vizcarrondo.

"We're slowly getting better," said Spates. "Our shape is good. We're getting stronger. Our technique is not where it needs to be but it is getting better every time we go to the mat."

SIUE, 2-5, has two more matches at the Hoosier Duals. The Cougars wrestle Drexel at 10 a.m. and host Indiana at noon.

SIUE 23 VMI 14

125 – Dakota Leach (SIUE) dec. Dalton Henderson (VMI), 9-2; TS: 3-0

133 – Patrick Myers (SIUE) maj. dec. Mike Flora (VMI), 13-1; TS: 7-0

141 - Drew Vrbenec (SIUE) maj. dec. Joe Jarrells (VMI), 10-0; TS: 11-0

149 – Shabaka Johns (VMI) dec. Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE), 6-3; TS: 11-3

157 – Ted Gottwald (VMI) dec. Logun Taylor (SIUE), 4-3; TS: 11-6

165 – Mark Darr (VMI) tech falls Lucas Volpe (SIUE), 17-2; TS: 11-11

174 - Jake Residori (SIUE) tech falls Timmy Davison (VMI), 15-0; TS: 16-11

184 – Deshoun White (SIUE) dec. Hardy Hendren (VMI), 9-5; TS: 19-11

197 – Chris Johnson (SIUE) maj. dec. Silvaatasi Mathias (VMI), 12-4; TS: 23-11

285 – Juan Adams (VMI) dec. David Devine (SIUE), 6-3; TS: 23-14

SIUE 25 Northern Colorado 17

125 – Trey Andrews (UNCO) dec. Dakota Leach (SIUE), 9-3; TS: 3-0

133 – Patrick Myers (SIUE) pins Sonny Espinoza (UNCO), 1:29; TS: 3-6

141 – Drew Vrbenec (SIUE) dec. Nick Adams (UNCO), 5-2; TS: 3-9

149 – Beau Roberts (UNCO) tech falls Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE), 18-2; TS: 8-9

157 – Mitchell Polkowske (UNCO) pins Lucas Volpe (SIUE), 0:44; TS: 14-9

165 – Connor McMahon (SIUE) dec. Charlie McMartin (UNCO), 8-6; TS: 14-12

174 – Jake Residori (SIUE) maj. dec. Josh VanTine (UNCO), 10-2; TS: 14-16

184 – Deshoun White (SIUE) dec. Nick Bayer (UNCO), 3-1; TS: 14-19

197 – Chris Johnson (SIUE) pins Cole Briegle (UNCO), 5:23; TS: 14-25

285 - #27 Henry Chirino (UNCO) dec. David Devine (SIUE), 5-3; TS: 17-25

West Virginia 27 SIUE 3

125 – Cory Stainbrook (WVU) dec. Dakota Leach (SIUE), 5-1; TS: 3-0

133 - #15 Nathan Pennessi (WVU) dec. Patrick Myers (SIUE), 4-3 (TB1); TS: 6-0

141 - #33 Colin Johnston (WVU) dec. Drew Vrbenec (SIUE), 6-2; TS: 9-0

149 - #31 Mike Morales (WVU) dec. Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE), 10-6; TS: 12-0

157 – Brutus Scheffel (WVU) dec. Logun Taylor (SIUE), 10-5; TS: 15-0

165 – Ross Renzi (WVU) dec. Connor McMahon (SIUE), 5-3; TS: 18-0

174 - #27 Bubba Scheffel (WVU) dec. Jake Residori (SIUE), 3-1; TS: 21-0

184 – Mac Mancuso (WVU) dec. Deshoun White (SIUE), 4-2; TS: 24-0

197 – Leo Trindade (WVU) dec. Chris Johnson (SIUE), 2-0; TS: 27-0

285 – David Devine (SIUE) dec. A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU), 6-4; TS: 27-3