Jan. 10, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Competing at the NWCA National Duals for the fourth straight year, No. 20 Northwestern had No. 4 Nebraska on the ropes Saturday, leading by an 18-12 margin after a critical pin by Jake Herbert at 184. But the Huskers rallied in the final two bouts to eke out a 19-18 victory in Cedar Falls, Iowa. NU will now face fifth-seeded Missouri, which was upset by Penn State in round one.
Fans can watch NU's match vs. Missouri live for free on LiveSportsVideo.com (Mat 15).
Nebraska, which boasts ranked wrestlers at the six upper weight classes, had difficulty contending with the Wildcats at the lower classes. At 125, No. 3 Brandon Precin built a 4-0 lead against Andy Pokorny but eventually needed just 2:01 to pin Pokorny and improve to 17-1 this year, giving Northwestern a 6-0 team lead.
At 133, Northwestern received a boost from the return to the lineup of Eric Metzler, who hit the mats for the first time this year after recovering from injury. Facing Matt Vacanti, Metzler essentially led the match wire-to-wire and used a third-period escape and takedown to build a four-point cushion, eventually winning 9-4.
No. 16 Keith Sulzer kept things rolling for Northwestern at 141, outlasting Jon Burns for an 11-9 decision. Sulzer racked up a reversal and two near-falls in the opening period and claimed a 7-2 advantage. Burns would close the gap to 9-8, but an escape and a riding time advantage for Sulzer gave the 'Cats a 12-0 lead after three bouts.
Robert Sanders put Nebraska on the board with a 6-3 decision against Northwestern's Andrew Nadhir before NU freshman Jason Welch squared off with second-ranked Jordan Burroughs at 157. Burroughs scored two early takedowns to grab a lead that he would not relinquish, winning 7-2.
Nebraska's highly touted upper weights began to seize the momentum, but Northwestern battled valiantly throughout. Kyle Bertin (165) and Robert Kellogg (174) kept it close against No. 7 Stephen Dwyer and No. 2 Brandon Browne, respectively, but Nebraska managed to tie the 'Cats with a pair of wins.
Knowing he needed to earn the full six points for a pin, top-ranked Herbert did just that against No. 14 Vince Jones. He built an 8-0 lead before notching the fall at 4:47 mark to remain unbeaten this season.
The nation's top-ranked 197-pounder, Craig Brester, picked up four points for the Huskers with a major decision against John Schoen, making it a two-point match entering the final bout. Northwestern's Ben Kuhar took a 4-3 lead in the third period with a takedown before No. 17 Tucker Lane regained the lead with a reversal. Kuhar tied the score at five with an escape with 45 seconds remaining, but Lane notched a takedown in the waning seconds of the match and used a riding time advantage to win, 8-5, and send Nebraska into the next round.
No. 4 Nebraska 19, No. 20 Northwestern 18
125: No. 3 B. Precin (NU) FALL A. Pokony (NEB), 2:01
133: E. Metzler (NU) dec. M. Vacanti (NEB), 9-4
141: No. 16 K. Sulzer (NU) dec. J. Burns (NEB), 11-9
149: R. Sanders (NEB) dec. A. Nadhir (NU), 6-3
157: No. 2 J. Burroughs (NEB) dec. No. 17 J. Welch (NU), 7-2
165: No. 7 S. Dwyer (NEB) dec. K. Bertin (NU), 8-3
174: No. 2 B. Browne (NEB) dec. R. Kellogg (NU), 14-7
184: No. 1 J. Herbert (NU) FALL No. 14 V. Jones (NU), 4:47
197: No. 1 C. Brester (NEB) MD J. Schoen (NU), 13-2
285: No. 17 T. Lane (NEB) dec. B. Kuhar (NU), 8-5