Lehigh captured the first three bouts to set the tone on Sunday and were competitive in two of the three losses.
Freshman Scott Parker started strong at 125 but had to avoid a near disaster to defeat Garrison White in the opening bout of the dual. Parker locked up a cradle for an early 6-1 lead before being reversed to his back for five points. White escaped early in the second to take a 7-6 lead but Parker answered with a takedown and added a 2:29 riding time advantage.
"He gave up a five point reversal in a match where you're thinking bonus points," Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro said. "All of a sudden you're almost pinned. He did a nice job of just keeping his composure, completing the match and wrestling hard and being the aggressor. That was nice to see."
Junior Mason Beckman made it two straight wins with his 6-1 decision over Dominick Malone at 133. Beckman started slow but used a three-point near fall in the third period to build a 5-0 lead before adding the riding time point.
Cruz pinned his second quality opponent in as many days, this time taking out Jameson Oster in 5:37. Cruz led 4-0 after one period and added a reversal in the second before once again using a cradle to gain control in the third period for the fall.
"He's getting a little better each week and that's what we want to see out of Randy," Santoro said of Cruz. "He's moving his feet better. His hand fighting has been better and obviously he's good on the mat."
Northwestern's first victory came at 149 as defending national champion Jason Tsirtsis held off a game Drew Longo 7-4. Tsirtsis scored three early takedowns but Longo controlled the pace after that. The Lehigh freshman was just unable to score offensively to pull closer. The Wildcats forfeited to sophomore Will Switzer at 157 as Lehigh led 18-6 at intermission.
"Drew did a great job," Santoro said of Longo's effort. He did what you want everyone to do. He keeps fighting. He keeps working. Once he keeps that first period closer, he's going to win a lot of matches."
The Wildcats posted a sudden victory win in the first bout following intermission as ninth-ranked Pierce Harger held off senior Santiago Martinez 3-1. Northwestern forfeited to senior Marshall Peppelman at 174 to extend Lehigh's lead to 24-6.
Junior Nathaniel Brown took a while to get going against Mitch Sliga at 184 but takedowns in the second and third period were enough to win 7-2. Lehigh's final win came at 197 where sophomore Elliot Riddick returned to dual competition with a 7-5 win over ninth-ranked Alex Polizzi in the second sudden victory period. Riddick had the only three takedowns in the bout, including the winner on a low single shot in the second sudden victory period.
Top-ranked heavyweight Mike McMullan closed the dual with Northwestern's only bonus win, a 9-1 major decision over sophomore Doug Vollaro.
"Everyone wrestled really well," Santoro said. "In the last two matches at the end we could have been a little more aggressive. With the blood timeouts, Elliot kind of lost his roll, but against a top ten kid like that you have to stay focused the whole time."
The Mountain Hawks will return home for a pair of duals next weekend inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Lehigh will face EIWA rival Penn Saturday at 2 p.m. and Rider Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets for both matches are available and can be purchased by visiting LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during normal business hours.
Results:
125 – Scott Parker (Lehigh) dec. Garrison White (NW) 9-7
133 – Mason Beckman (Lehigh) dec. Dominick Malone (NW) 6-1
141 – Randy Cruz (Lehigh) Fall Jameson Oster (NW) 5:37
149 – Jason Tsirtsis (NW) dec. Drew Longo (Lehigh) 7-4
157 – Will Switzer (Lehigh) won by forfeit
165 – Pierce Harger (NW) dec. Santiago Martinez (Lehigh) 3-1, s.v.
174 – Marshall Peppelman (Lehigh) won by forfeit
184 – Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) dec. Mitch Sliga (NW) 7-2
197 – Elliot Riddick (Lehigh) dec. Alex Polizzi (NW) 7-5, s.v. 2
285 – Mike McMullan (NW) major dec. Doug Vollaro (Lehigh) 9-1
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