Northwestern
Nebraska
Harger Wins Career Match Number 98
1/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
| #10 Nebraska 25, #22 Northwestern 11 Welsh-Ryan Arena • Evanston, Ill. |
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Eighth-ranked Pierce Harger (165) picked up career win number 98 on Friday with a win against Austin Wilson in the Wildcats' dual with No. 10 Nebraska. Ranked wrestlers Mike McMullan (285) and Jason Tsirtsis (149) also picked up wins for Northwestern, but the Wildcats fell to the Huskers, 25-11.
McMullan kicked off the dual with a win, besting No. 17 Collin Jensen at 285 pounds. McMullan was the first on the board, taking down Jensen with a minute left in the first period. After Jensen escaped, McMullan quickly bounced back picking up a second takedown and two back points to go ahead 6-1. The fourth-ranked Wildcat extended his lead with a quick escape in the second period and earned the riding time point to win the match 8-2.
No. 3 Tsirtsis dominated at 149 lbs., defeating Justin Arthurs in a 10-2 major decision. Tsirtsis put together a strong performance throughout the match, picking up multiple takedowns and major riding time.
Harger controlled his match with Wilson from start to finish. He picked up a quick takedown in the first period, and in the second, scored a quick reversal and three near-fall points to go ahead 7-0. He extended his lead to 11-0 with another takedown and two more near-fall points. With both a stalling point and the riding time advantage, Harger bested Wilson 13-3.
Jameson Oster nearly pulled an upset at 141 lbs. over No. 8 Anthony Abidin. The Husker appeared to be in control of the match, leading 7-2 in the third period, but Oster flipped Abidin for a reversal and a three-point nearfall to tie the match at seven. With Abidin in control of riding time, Oster was forced to give up an escape and was unable to come up with the match-tying takedown.
Another close match took place at 125 lbs. between 20th-ranked Dominick Malone and Eric Montoya. Malone struck first by taking down Montoya in the first period. After a tight second and third period, Malone trailed Montoya 4-2 with 30 seconds left in the match. He took a shot near the end but Montoya was able to come out on top, winning the match 6-2.
The dual ended with a thriller at 197 between No. 12 Alex Polizzi and No. 20 Aaron Studebaker. Polizzi sprung into action immediately with a takedown and then was reversed by Studebaker before escaping to go ahead 3-2. He trailed 5-4 with just seconds remaining in the third period when Studebaker was called for his second stalling warning, giving Polizzi a point and tying the match. After a lengthy scramble in sudden victory, Studebaker picked up the match-winning takedown.
Northwestern continues its stretch at home next Sunday, Feb. 8 when Rutgers comes to Welsh-Ryan Arena for the first ever conference meeting between the teams. The match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Results
125: #11 Tim Lambert (Neb.) dec. Garrison White (NU), 7-1
133: Eric Montoya (Neb.) dec. #20 Dominick Malone (NU), 6-2
141: #8 Anthony Abidin (Neb.) dec. Jameson Oster (NU), 9-7
149: #3 Jason Tsirtsis (NU) maj. dec. Justin Arthur (Neb.), 10-2
157: #4 James Green (Neb.) dec. Ben Sullivan (NU), 9-4
165: #8 Pierce Harger (NU) maj. dec. Austin Wilson (Neb.), 13-3
174: #1 Robert Kokesh (Neb.) Win by Forfeit
184: #18 T.J. Dudley (Neb.) dec. Mitch Sliga (NU), 10-0
197: #20 Aaron Studebaker (Neb.) maj. dec. #12 Alex Polizzi (NU), 7-5 (SV1)
285: #4 Mike McMullan (NU) dec. #17 Collin Jensen (Neb.), 8-2
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