HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Despite building commanding leads through six bouts in matches against Bloomsburg and Hofstra, the VMI wrestling team could not maintain the advantages as the Keydets fell by respective scores of 20-18 and 25-18 Sunday afternoon in Hempstead, New York.

Facing Bloomsburg in the first match of the day, the Keydets built an 18-4 lead through six bouts starting with a 5-3 Dalton Henderson decision over the Huskies' Jon Haas for a quick 3-0 team lead. After Dominick Gallo was majored by his BU opponent at 133 pounds, VMI's Hunter Starner earned bonus points for VMI by pinning Bloomsburg's Sam Holandez in the second period (4:31) to give VMI a 9-4 lead.

At 149 pounds, VMI's Emmitt Kelly lifted the Keydets to a 12-4 lead by earning an 8-2 decision over Ryan Snow. Freshman Neal Richards (157) and junior Shabaka Johns (165) would go on to earn decision victories in their respective bouts to give the Keydets their final tally of 18 points.

VMI was unable to notch anymore victory points in the final four bouts as Bloomsburg rallied for 16 unanswered points in the upperweight divisions to steal the come-from-behind win.

“We came out flat for Bloomsburg,” said VMI head coach Chris Skretkowicz. “We knew going in that we would be forfeiting at 197 pounds due to a skin infection that came up from the Sacred Heart match Saturday. I felt we should have scored bonus points in a few matches and we failed to get that done.”

Against Hofstra in the 3 p.m. match, VMI again built a commanding 18-3 advantage through six bouts but let the Pride back in the final bouts and additional forfeit at 197 as the host team also stole a come-from-behind victory over the Keydets.

Henderson led the way with a 3-0 decision over Hofstra's Bryan Damon for another quick 3-0 team lead for VMI. Dominick Gallo logged his first dual win of the year by majoring Hofstra's Marcus Begay, 9-0, at 133 pounds for a 7-0 VMI advantage. Hofstra 141-pounder Jamel Hudson tempered the momentum by defeating Starner by a 6-2 decision to trim the VMI lead to 7-3.

After a Kelly victory by decision at 149 pounds, Richards and Johns did register bonus points at 157- and 165 pounds by majoring their opponents and increasing the Keydet lead to 18-3 after six bouts. Losses in three of the final four divisions and the forfeiture at 197 pounds again doomed VMI as the Pride escaped with the 25-18 victory on its home mat.

"Our guys came back hard against Hofstra, winning five of the first six weights," Skretkowicz said. "Forfeiting 197 ultimately cost us the dual in both contests today. We need one of our 197-pounders to step up and fill that hole. We could have come away with both wins today and I'm disappointed we didn't get it done."

VMI returns to action on Friday, Jan. 8 with a neutral site matchup with nationally ranked Virginia. The Keydets and Cavaliers square off at 7 p.m. at St. Christopher's High School in Richmond.