MOORHEAD, Minn. –Minnesota State University Moorhead began Wednesday night's dual against No. 5 ranked Augustana College by winning the first two matches. The Dragons, 2-9 and 1-6 in the NSIC, could not hold the earlier lead as the Vikings, 13-3 and 5-2 in the NSIC, pulled out the 29-10 win in Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.
The Dragons exited the starting gates looking hopeful as
Gerad Fugleberg and No. 1 ranked
Corey Ulmer pulled out wins over their Viking opponents. Only
Jacob Bennett would grab another win for the Dragons as they totaled 10 points via two decisions and one major decision.
Gerad Fugleberg (10-13) started the matches on the night by taking on 285-pounder Taylor Harris. Fugleberg would be the only one of the two to score points, the first coming in the second period as a two-point near fall. Two three-point near falls in the third period guided the Fargo native to a 8-0 major decision to put the Dragons on top early, 4-0.
Nationally ranked
Corey Ulmer (21-2), 125 pounds, was the next to take the mat in what turned out to be a heated contest between the No. 1 ranked Ulmer and Cody Lensing. The first period yielded no points but Ulmer was able to use a reversal and a near fall to score four points in the second. An unsportsmanlike penalty was handed to Lensing in the third period when he struck Ulmer in the back of the head while Ulmer was laying on the mat. After Ulmer jumped up and used an emphatic push to get Lensing away, the Ashley, N.D. native regained his composure and used it to pull out a 5-1 decision win. The score after two matches was 7-0 in favor of the Dragons.
A pin from Augustana ended the win streak and sparked one of their own. The Vikings took the next three matches to gain a 13-7 lead.
Jacob Bennett (16-10) put the Dragons on the board again by matching up against 157-pound opponent Parker Swanson. The first two periods rewarded Swanson with a 4-2 lead before Bennett began his comeback to take the win. Bennett was able to take Swanson to the mat for two points that tied the match up with 14 seconds remaining. With just four seconds left, Bennett was given a near fall call that gave him the narrow 7-6 decision victory. Three points were given to the Dragons to bring them to within three, 13-10.
The rest of the dual would not provide the Dragons with good fortune as the Vikings won the next four matches. Sixteen points were added to Augustana's total that would make the final score 29-10.
The Dragons look to finish the 2011-12 season on a high note as the seniors and the 2006 National Champion in the 165-pound class, Nate Baker, will be honored during Friday's dual against Southwest Minnesota State. The John Sterner Endowment Dual will take place in Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse with matches beginning at 7 p.m.
