Complete Results & Play-by-Play - PDF
Nebraska-Omaha, the top-ranked team in Division II, captured nearly all of the close matches to defeat No. 13 Augustana 28-9 in a non-conference dual Thursday night at the Elmen Center.
With eight nationally-ranked wrestlers, including seven in the top 3 of their respective weight classes, UNO won eight of the 10 matches in a battle of former North Central Conference rivals. Augustana slipped to 6-6 on the season, while Nebraska-Omaha remained unbeaten at 9-0.
Although Augustana lost eight matches, the Vikings competed well as four of the losses were by 3 points or less.
Augustana's senior 149-pounder Mike Long was the only Viking who took the mat and left it victorious as he edged third-ranked Esai Dominguez 6-5. Long trailed 5-3 early in the final period. With 50 seconds left, Dominguez was called for stalling for the second time in the match, making the score 5-4. Long then scored a takedown with 38 seconds left to take a 6-5 lead. Dominguez tried hard to escape in the waning seconds of the match, but he could not kick out of Long's grasp as the horn sounded.
The Vikings' other win came at 197 pounds where seventh-ranked Ty Copsey won by forfeit.
At 125 pounds, Augie's Al Meger led for most of his match against Matt Rein, but Rein scored a takedown with 43 seconds left and a 3-point near fall with 13 seconds remaining to claim an 8-5 victory.
At 165 pounds, UNO's Ryan Pankoke downed the Vikings' Marcus Edgington 2-0. Pankoke rode Edgington for the entire second period and then scored an escape in the third period for the only scoring in the match.
Augustana's Brian Schultz gave No. 2 ranked Ross Taplin all he could handle before falling 5-3 in the 174-pound matchup. Schultz escaped early in the final period to trail 3-2. However Taplin got a takedown with 54 seconds left to go up 5-2. Schultz quickly escaped but could not get the tying takedown.
The 285-pound bout between Augie's Lance Peters and third-ranked Tony Lewis got heated before Lewis got a 4-3 win. After a scoreless first period, Lewis got an escape to start the second period to take a 1-0 lead. However, Lewis was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after he head-butted Peters, tying the math at 1-1.
Peters chose down to start the final period and with 1:23 left, Lewis turned Peters and gained a 3-point near fall to take a 4-1 lead. Peters managed to escape with 1:20 remaining to make the score 4-2. He took several shots in the final minute of action but could not get the tying takedown. As the match was ending, Lewis was again called for unsportsmanlike conduct to make the final score 4-3.
Augustana is back on the mat on Friday night as the Vikings host their final home dual of the season. The Vikings return to Northern Sun Intercollegiate action as they entertain 11th-ranked St. Cloud State in a 7 p.m. dual at the Elmen Center.
#1 Nebraska-Omaha 28, #13 Augustana 9
125 pounds: Matt Rein (UNO) dec. Al Meger (Augustana), 8-5
133 pounds: #2 Cody Garcia (UNO) dec. Jason Jeremiason (Augustana), 9-3
141 pounds: #2 Mario Morgan (UNO) major dec. Jay Sherer (Augustana), 15-6
149 pounds: Mike Long (Augustana) dec. #3 Esai Dominguez (UNO), 6-5
157 pounds: #1 Todd Meneely (UNO) pinned Kyle Svendsen (Augustana), 4:10
165 pounds: Ryan Pankoke (UNO) dec. Marcus Edgington (Augustana), 2-0
174 pounds: #2 Ross Taplin (UNO) dec. Brian Schultz (Augustana), 5-3
184 pounds: #2 Brent Pankoke (UNO) dec. Nick Henning (Augustana), 9-2
197 pounds: #7 Ty Copsey (Augustana) wins by forfeit
285 pounds: #3 Tony Lewis (UNO) dec. Lance Peters (Augustana), 4-3
