ERIE, Pa. - Mercyhurst capitalized on two pins, a forfeit and an upset at 133 pounds to edge Millersville 29-19 in PSAC dual action Saturday.
Mercyhurst had already clinched the dual win, but it closed at 133 with a marquee match-up between Millersville's No. 1-ranked
Devin Flannery and Mercyhurst's No. 4-ranked Eric Bartos. Bartos' work in the second period lifted him to 4-3 over Flannery, who took his first loss against a Division II opponent this season. Mercyhurst won five of the 10 contested matches, and a Millersville injury at 157 pounds gave the Lakers an addition six points.
Mercyhurst improved to 9-6 (4-1 PSAC) with the win while Millersville dropped to 10-6 (3-4 PSAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Millersville picked up its first points from
Craig Cook at 149 pounds, as Cook posted a shutout, and got a third-period takedown to increase his lead to 4-0 over Mike Zacur. Millersville pulled within one point at 9-8 as
Brandon Connor made quick work of Mike Clark at 165 pounds, scoring an 18-0 tech fall in just 2:39. Connor hit one takedown and then piled up 16 nearfall points before the period ended. Mercyhurst won the next three matches, accumulating 15 points and putting the win for Millersville nearly out of reach.
• But
Bishop McCoy at 285 and
Bryce Beatty at 125 battled. McCoy was in full control, totaling eight takedowns in his 21-5 tech fall win. Beatty trailed Billy Smith 9-2 after two periods but went on the attack. He hit three quick takedowns in the final period, and with 15 seconds remaining in the match and trailing 11-10, Beatty stuck Smith for six points.
• The battle of top-ranked wrestlers expectedly came down to the final seconds. After a scoreless first period, Bartos started the second with an escape from the bottom position and then took a 3-0 lead with a takedown. Flannery got on the board with an escape to start the third, and with 54 seconds left, he tied the match at 3-3 with a takedown. Bartos worked his way free of Flannery's grasp for a 4-3 lead with 35 seconds remaining and then fended off Flannery's shots in the final seconds to pull off the win.
POST-MATCH REACTION FROM COACH JERRY BOLAND
• On the team's performance: "I thought we fought hard today. We were definitely shorthanded right now, but that's not an excuse. It is what it is. Mercyhurst got a couple of breaks, too. But I am proud of our effort. Bryce and Bishop back-to-back, keeping the pace from start to finish, and Bryce getting the pin was big for him."
• On Flannery learning from his match: "He probably let Bartos in on his legs too much. A guy of that caliber will eventually capitalize, and he did. We will work on that and look for a better result next time. He wrestled hard but just came up a little short.
RESULTS
141: Jake Niffenegger (MERC) over
Tim Uhler (MILL) (Dec 6-2)
149:
Craig Cook (MILL) over Mike Zacur (MERC) (Dec 4-0)
157: Max Stedeford (MERC) over (MILL) (For.)
165:
Brandon Connor (MILL) over Mike Clark (MERC) (TF 18-0 2:39)
174: Dillon Walker (MERC) over
Andrew Vogelbacher (MILL) (Fall 1:55)
184: Chase Stein (MERC) over
Braden Newby (MILL) (Fall 2:36)
197: Luke McGonigal (MERC) over Daniel Pereira (MILL) (TF 16-0 3:00)
285:
Bishop McCoy (MILL) over Michael DeLuca (MERC) (TF 21-5 5:35)
125:
Bryce Beatty (MILL) over Billy Smith (MERC) (Fall 6:44)
133: Eric Bartos (MERC) over
Devin Flannery (MILL) (Dec 4-3)
ALSO IN ACTION
• Millersville also sent a contingent of wrestlers to the Messiah Open on Saturday. 285-pound
Jordan Espinosa finished in third place, going 4-1 with three pins.
Eli Tuckey (157) and
Josh Tuckey (149) both finished in fifth. Collins Higgins took sixth at 133 pounds.
Click here for full results.
UP NEXT
• Millersville closes its regular season at the annual Battle for the Rupp Cup against Franklin & Marshall on Friday, Feb. 10.
