Lehighsports.com

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the second time in three years, a team from the Big XII spoiled Lehigh’s Sheridan Dual as No. 19 Nebraska won seven of ten bouts to knock off the 24th ranked Mountain Hawks 27-15 Friday night in front of 1,872 inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall.  All three Lehigh wins earned bonus points, but several last second losses cost the Mountain Hawks, as they fall to 14-8 on the season. Nebraska improves to 9-7 with the win.

The dual opened at 133 with freshman Seth Ciasulli taking on Patrick Aleksanyan. The Nebraska grappler scored first, but aside from a second period reversal it was all Ciasulli. A takedown and two point near fall gave him the lead after one period, then a second period reversal led to Ciasulli securing his second fall of the year at 4:40.

Nebraska then went on a major run, winning the next five bouts to take an 18-6 lead. Dominick Moyer bested Matt Ciasulli 9-2 in a battle of ranked wrestlers at 141. The Cornhuskers earned bonus points at the next two weights with Jordan Burroughs winning by technical fall over junior Jeff Santo, and Chris Oliver winning by major decision over Dave Nakasone at 157.

Freshman Manuel Schubert lost a 5-1 decision to Stephen Dwyer at 165 and the Mountain Hawks looked to senior Dave Helfrich for a boost. Helfrich started strong, scoring the first takedown, but Marc Hardwood battled back. Trailing by one on the bottom in the third, Helfrich received a late penalty point after a second stalling call to tie the bout at four, but Harwood then put Helfrich on his back for a three point near fall as time expired to earn the 7-4 win.

Lehigh finally broke Nebraska’s streak at 184, with freshman David Craig earning a dominant 11-2 major decision over Levi Wofford. Craig scored a takedown then used cradles to secure a two point near fall and a three pointer in the first period and never looked back.

Senior Matt Cassidy looked to continue the momentum with at 197, scoring an early takedown and two point near fall. Leading 4-1, Cassidy missed with a cement job and ended up on his back, where Craig Brester clinched victory for the Huskers with a fall in 1:10.

At heavyweight, Paul Weibel earned five more points for Lehigh, with a 19-4 technical fall over Cameron Brown.

The final bout of the night pitted sophomore Matt Fisk against No. 13 Paul Donahoe. After a scoreless first period, Fisk seized the momentum, scoring five near fall points off of two tilts, but could not sustain momentum throughout the third. After Fisk escaped to tie the bout at 8, Donahoe secured the decisive takedown in the final seconds of a 10-8 victory.

The Mountain Hawks will wrap-up the dual season on Sunday afternoon as No. 20 Penn visits Stabler Arena. The match gets underway at 1:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Stabler Arena box office before the match on Sunday.

Attendance – 1,872

Referee – Jeff Cook