MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Redshirt sophomore Tyler Goodwin (133) and freshman Jaron Smith (184) secured their first career Big Ten dual match victories, but it was not enough as host No. 21 Minnesota bested Maryland 26-12 Friday evening. Redshirt senior Lou Mascola (157) also picked up a win in Maryland's first ever trip to the Sports Pavilion, as the Terps now slide to 3-6 (0-3 Big Ten) on the season. The Gophers improve to 5-5 (1-1 Big Ten).
The Gophers took an early lead in the fourth-ever meeting between the two schools, as Steve Polakowski sealed a 7-1 decision over redshirt freshman Michael Beck (125) in the opening match. Goodwin soon shifted the tides for the Terps, getting a 6-0 lead on Sam Brancale after the first period of the 133-pound bout.
The Gambrills, Md. native kept his momentum going into the second, gaining control of Brancale and putting him on his back at 4:27 for his first pin of the season and first victory in a Big Ten dual match. Goodwin improved to 6-2 on the year with win, while also putting his side ahead 6-3.
Maryland faced two tough battles in the ensuing 141 and 149-pound matches, with redshirt freshman Alfred Bannister and freshman Wade Hodges both going up against ranked opponents. Bannister (141) held his own early against No. 10 Tommy Thorn, before a late takedown at the buzzer had the Gopher ahead 2-0 at the end of the first period. Bannister continued to challenge redshirt freshman, before surrendering a 9-2 decision in his first match since December 5.
Hodges (149) hung tough against No. 9 Jake Short, as the two wrestlers ended the first period knotted a zero. After trading escapes, Short finally managed to bring him down, but a penalty point was awarded for locked hands to make it 3-2 and keep Hodges alive. Short came out ahead in the end, getting a series of points at the end of the third period to clinch a 6-2 decision.
Mascola (157) pulled the Terps even in his match against Brandon Kingsley, securing a 3-2 decision to tie things up 9-9. Kingsley kept Mascola in check with a wrist lock for much of the first, but the East Hanover, N.J. native eventually broke through in the second with an escape and a takedown to go up 3-0. A pair of Kingsley escapes would make things interesting down the stretch, but Mascola fended off any late attacks to get his team-leading seventh dual match victory of the season.
A Brandon Krone decision over freshman Brendan Burnham (165) and a Nick Wanzek pin vs. Josh Snook (174), put Minnesota back ahead 18-9, but Smith kept Maryland in contention with a win at 184. The Columbia, Md. product took control of his match vs. Chris Pfarr, scoring on a pair of takedowns in the first and second periods. Pfarr managed two with a reversal, but Smith countered with back points to get the 6-2 decision and his first Big Ten dual match win. (Note: Smith's win over Jeff Koepke (Illinois) was not part of Maryland's official conference schedule).
Minnesota clinched the match with a major decision at 197, with No. 4 Brett Pfarr winning 12-4 over redshirt freshman Garrett Wesneski. No. 7 Michael Kroells wrapped up the match with a major decision vs. freshman Youssif Hemida to give the Gophers the 26-12 victory.
The Terps will return home for their second match of the weekend when the team hosts Michigan State University at the XFINITY Center. The match is slated to start at 1:00 pm, and will be streaming live on BTN Plus.
Maryland 12, Minnesota 26
125: Steve Polakowski (MINN) decision over Michael Beck (MD), 7-1 (0-3)
133: Tyler Goodwin (MD) fall over Sam Brancale (MINN), 4:27 (6-3)
141: No. 10 Tommy Thorn (MINN) decision over Alfred Bannister (MD), 9-2 (6-6)
149: No. 9 Jake Short (MINN) decision over Wade Hodges (MD), 6-2 (6-9)
157: No. 18 Lou Mascola (MD) decision over Brandon Kingsley (MINN), 3-2 (9-9)
165: Brandon Krone (MINN) decision over Brendan Burnham (MD), 8-3 (9-12)
174: Nick Wanzek (MINN) fall over Josh Snook (MD), 3:33 (9-18)
184: Jaron Smith (MD) decision over Chris Pfarr (MINN), 6-2 (12-18)
197: No. 4 Brett Pfarr (MINN) major decision over Garrett Wesneski (MD), 12-4 (12-22)
285: No. 7 Michael Kroells (MINN) major decision over Youssif Hemida (MD), 10-2 (12-26)
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