Wrestling Loses By Criteria to No. 5 Lehigh in Strong Comeback Performance

Sunday, December 10

Daskalakis Athletic Center

4 p.m.

Drexel University

Lehigh

Photo by: Sideline Photos

Wrestling Loses By Criteria to No. 5 Lehigh in Strong Comeback Performance

12/10/2017 5:46:00 PM | Wrestling

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel wrestling team came from behind to tie No. 5 Lehigh, 20-20 in a home EIWA matchup on Sunday afternoon. The Dragons lost by technicality as the Mountain Hawks won six of the 10 matches, putting the first criteria in their favor and giving Lehigh the dual meet victory.

The dual started at 174 as Lehigh's No. 5 Jordan Kutler defeated Austin Rose, 5-1 to give the Mountain Hawks the first lead of the day. Owen Brooks retaliated, however, as he came out strong at 184 and pinned Paul Dunn off a reversal in the third period to give Drexel the advantage, 6-3.

Despite trading the first two matches, Lehigh started a three-match winning streak with a major decision from Chris Weiler at 197 over No. 20 Stephen Loiseau. In the heavyweight match No. 12 Jordan Wood overcame Vincenzo Pelusi with a 5-1 decision. Then despite a very close match at 125, No. 4 Darian Cruz came out ahead of Zack Fuentes by a score of 3-2.

No. 6 Austin DeSanto got the Dragons back on the board with a 22-6 technical fall over Lehigh's Nick Farro at 133. At 141, however, the Mountain Hawks' No. 16 Luke Karam came back with a 9-1 major decision over Chandler Olson to give Lehigh a 17-11 lead.

Trevor Elfvin brought Drexel within three points with a strong performance and 14-7 win over Cortlandt Schuyler at 149 pounds. Then in another tight match, Lehigh's Ian Brown edged his way past Evan Barczak by a 3-2 decision to give the Mountain Hawks a six-point advantage with one match to play.

The final match of the day proved exciting as Ebed Jarrell came from behind at 165. The bout was even at 13-13 with just over a minute to wrestle in the third period before Jarrell turned a takedown into a pin with 27 seconds remaining. The win-by-fall put the Dragons even with the fifth-ranked Mountain Hawks at 20-20 in the overall team score to end the dual. Lehigh, however, had the advantage after winning six matches to Drexel's four and therefore walked away with the win by criteria.

The Dragons move to 4-2 on the season and 0-2 in conference matchups, while the No. 5 Mountain Hawks improve to 6-1, 4-0 EIWA.

Drexel Wrestling will return to action on Jan. 1-2 as it rings in the New Year at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. After that, the Dragons will return to the DAC on Jan. 11 to host Keystone and Franklin & Marshall in back-to-back duals at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

No. 5 Lehigh 20, Drexel 20 – Lehigh wins by criteria
174: No. 5 Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) DEC Austin Rose (DU), 5-1
184: Owen Brooks (DU) WBF Paul Dunn (Lehigh) @ 6:12
197: Chris Weiler (Lehigh) MAJ No. 20 Stephen Loiseau (DU), 8-0
285: No. 12 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) DEC Vincenzo Pelusi (DU), 5-1
125: No. 4 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) DEC Zack Fuentes (DU), 3-2
133: No. 6 Austin DeSanto (DU) TF Nick Farro (Lehigh), 22-6 @ 3:00
141: No. 16 Luke Karam MAJ Chandler Olson (DU), 9-1
149: Trevor Elfvin (DU) DEC Cortlandt Schuyler (Lehigh), 14-7
157: Ian Brown (Lehigh) DEC Evan Barczak (DU), 3-2
165: Ebed Jarrell (DU) WBF Cole Walter (Lehigh) @ 6:33

Attendance: 487