COLLEGE PARK, Md. – No. 14 Geoffrey Alexander won two matches, but the Maryland wrestling team dropped duals to Navy (20-18) and No. 11 Lehigh (35-3) at the XFINITY Center Sunday afternoon.
The Terps (5-9, 0-3 Big Ten) started strong against the Midshipmen (2-2), leading 15-3 after five matches before being edged late. Lehigh (9-3) jumped on the Terps from the start and never let up over the course of 10 matches.
“Despite the results, I think it was a decent day,” head coach Kerry McCoy said. “The guys fought hard. We fell short in a couple matches that could've gone our way but overall I think the guys are moving in the right direction.”
The dual with Navy started at 125 pounds with junior Josh Polacek taking on Cam Timok. The Navy freshman went ahead with takedown in the first few seconds of the match and eventually earned an 8-4 win.
In the 133-pound bout, Alexander took down Zack Davis early and often to nab a 12-2 major decision victory. Senior Frank Goodwin was also dominant, grabbing a takedown to three back points in the first period and another near fall in the second period. The Maryland native eventually won 15-2 over Taylor French to give the Terps an 8-4 advantage.
No. 16 Shyheim Brown did most of his work in the first period of the 149-pound contest, taking down Cory Wilding before executing a tilt to earn three back points. Brown would eventually notch a 7-1 decision victory.
At 157 pounds, redshirt junior Lou Mascola wrestled a physical match against Jonathan Clemente. Mascola brought the XFINITY Center crowd to its feat with a late four-point move to earn a major decision.
Navy got back on track with a major decision at 165 pounds via Peyton Walsh and a pin from Jadaen Bernstein at 174. Michael Woulfe gave the Midshipmen the lead with a major decision over senior Tony Gardner at 184 pounds.
At 197 pounds, senior Rob Fitzgerald gave up a takedown in the final seconds to drop a 6-5 decision to Paul Rands. Needing a fall make up the deficit, senior Spencer Myers tried to turn Brendan Kahle multiple times in the third period, but ended up with a 6-0 decision victory.
Against Lehigh, Alexander was the star. The Pittsburgh native used a late third period reversal to take the lead against returning All-American and No. 9 Mason Beckman. Alexander was able to ride out Beckman to eliminate the riding time point and take a 2-1 decision.
Mascola wrestled tough against returning All-American Mitch Minotti, but came out on the wrong end of a 10-4 decision. The Terps dropped the last eight matches of the dual and lost 35-3.
Maryland returns to action next Sunday when No. 23 Rutgers comes to College Park. Action is scheduled to begin at noon in the XFINITY Center Pavilion.
Navy 20, Maryland 18
125: Cam Timok (N) decision over Josh Polacek (MD), 8-4 (3-0)
133: Geoffrey Alexander (MD) major decision over Zack Davis (N), 12-2 (3-4)
141: Frank Goodwin (MD) major decision over Taylor French (N), 15-2 (3-8)
149: Shyheim Brown (MD) decision over Cory Wilding (N), 7-1 (3-11)
157: Lou Mascola (MD) major decision over Jonathan Clemente (N), 12-3 (3-15)
165: Peyton Walsh (N) major decision over Tyler Manion (MD), 10-2 (7-15)
174: Jadaen Bernstein (N) fall over Josh Snook (MD), 4:34 (13-15)
184: Michael Woulfe (N) major decision over Tony Gardner (MD), 8-0 (17-15)
197: Paul Rands (N) decision over Rob Fitzgerald (MD), 6-5 (20-15)
285: Spencer Myers (MD) decision over Brendan Kahle (N), 6-0 (20-18)
No 11 Lehigh 35, Maryland 3
125: Scott Parker (LEH) decision over Josh Polacek (MD), 10-4 (3-0)
133: No. 14 Geoffrey Alexander (MD) decision over No. 9 Mason Beckman (LEH), 2-1 (3-3)
141: No. 18 Randy Cruz (LEH) fall over Frank Goodwin (MD), 4:42 (9-3)
149: Drew Longo (LEH) decision over RJ De George (MD), 7-2 (12-3)
157: Mitch Minotti (LEH) decision over Lou Mascola (MD), 10-4 (15-3)
165: Marshall Peppelman (LEH) decision over Justin Alexander (MD), 6-3 (18-3)
174: Santiago Martinez (LEH) fall over Tyler Manion (MD), 4:05 (24-3)
184: No. 7 Nate Brown (LEH) technical fall over Tony Gardner (MD) 21-6, 6:15 (29-3)
197: No. 15 Elliot Riddick (LEH) decision over Rob Fitzgerald (MD), 6-3 (32-3)
285: Doug Vollaro (LEH) decision over Sean Twigg (MD), 9-3 (35-3)
-Maryland-
