La Crosse, Wis. - The UW-La Crosse wrestling team opened its 2009-10 home schedule with a 43-0 victory over UW-Platteville Thursday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, ranked first in NCAA Division III, improve to 2-0 on the season in duals, including 2-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Pioneers, ranked 30th in the country, fall to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Albie McKinney opened the dual with a win by decision (9-6) at 125-pounds to give UW-L a 3-0 lead. Bebeto Yewah, ranked 10th in NCAA III at 133, gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead after a win by major decision (20-7) over the Pioneers' Andrew Skog.

UW-L's Justin Garcia earned a win by decision (8-2) over Andy Casper at 141-pounds; Dylan Shaffer received a win by forfeit at 149-pounds and Ryan Farwell won by decision (10-7) over Shawn Flom at 157-pounds.

The Eagles' Cory Ferguson then made it 25-0 as he won by fall (4:17) over Jeremy Depies at 165-pounds. Ferguson is also ranked 10th in the NCAA III. Mike Schmitz gave UW-L a 28-0 lead with a victory by decision (8-2) over UW-Platteville's Cory Zuberbier at 174-pounds. Schmitz is currently ranked second in the country.

Mitch Artist (184-pounds), Andy Moore (197) and Dan Laurent (285) finished the dual with victories for UW-L. Artist won by fall (:32) over Matt Scott while Moore defeated Brad Zellner by decision (3-1) and Laurent picked up a win by fall (1:50) over Tyler Manning. Moore, ranked third in NCAA III, improved to 7-0 while Laurent went to 10-0 with his victory. Laurent, the two-time defending national champion at 285, is ranked first in the country.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, Dec. 5 hosting the Holiday Inn Express Duals. The Eagles host Loras College (Iowa) at 9 a.m., Loras College (Iowa) at 11 a.m. and NCAA II St. Cloud State University (Minn.) at 1 p.m. in the Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse.