Northwestern
Maryland
Harger wins 100th Career Match as Northwestern Rolls Maryland
2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
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| Northwestern 26, Maryland 18 Welsh-Ryan Arena • Evanston, Ill. |
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EVANSTON, Ill. – Pierce Harger won his 100th career match on senior night, and Northwestern dominated Maryland en route to a 26-18 Big Ten win on Friday.
In his final match at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the seventh-ranked Harger built a commanding lead over T.J. Guidice before winning by fall in the second period. Harger led 7-1 after the first period after a couple of takedowns and three nearfall points. He started the second period on bottom but got a quick reversal and three more via nearfall. In control with a 12-1 advantage, Harger put the match away with the fall in 4:32.
Heavyweight Mike McMullan was also a winner in his final home match, picking up a 4-2 decision over No. 12 Spencer Myers. McMullan, ranked fourth at 285, used a strong second period to help build up more than three minutes in riding time in the final match at Welsh-Ryan Arena this season.
Northwestern won seven of nine contested matches on the night.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start, winning the first four matches and building a 14-0 lead before Maryland was able to get on the board.
Garrison White jumpstarted the Northwestern onslaught with a 4-3 win at 125 lbs. over Josh Polacek. Dominick Malone followed by avenging a Midlands loss to the Terrapins' 20th-ranked Geoffrey Alexander. Malone took control of the match in the second and third periods to secure a 5-3 win and pick up his 17th victory of the season.
Jameson Oster kept the momentum going for Northwestern with a 4-0 shutout of Shyheim Brown at 141 lbs. Third-ranked Jason Tsirtsis was the aggressor from the opening whistle, securing four takedowns and three three-point nearfalls to pick up an 18-1 tech fall over Ben Dorsay at 149 lbs.
After Harger's win at 165, Mitch Sliga followed with a convincing 6-2 decision over Tony Gardner at 184. Sliga got a takedown early and rode Gardner for much of the match, picking up 3:35 in riding time.
Northwestern won its 10th dual of the season with the victory over Maryland.
The Wildcats end the 2014-15 regular season with a pair of non-conference duals in Washington D.C. next weekend. Northwestern wrestles American and George Mason in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Big Ten Championships will be held March 7-8 at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Results
125: Garrison White (NU) dec. Josh Polacek (MD), 4-3
133: Dominick Malone (NU) dec. #20 Geoffrey Alexander (MD), 5-3
141: Jameson Oster (NU) dec. Shyheim Brown (MD), 4-0
149: #3 Jason Tsirtsis (NU) Tech Fall Ben Dorsay (MD), 18-1 (6:18)
157: Lou Mascola (MD) Fall Ben Sullivan (NU), 1:39
165: #7 Pierce Harger (NU) Fall T.J. Guidice (MD), 4:32
174: Josh Snook (MD) Win by Forfeit
184: Mitch Sliga (NU) dec. Tony Gardner (MD), 6-2
197: Rob Fitzgerald (MD) Fall #16 Alex Polizzi (NU), 1:01
285: #4 Mike McMullan (NU) dec. #12 Spencer Myers (MD), 4-2
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