MSU-Mankato 19 MSU-Moorhead 18

Late Wins Propel Mavericks to Victory

Becker, Norgren and Mahan Earn Late-Match Victories to Complete Comeback

Moorhead, Minn. – The Minnesota State Mavericks were able to survive their first NSIC road dual of the year as they came back to defeat Minnesota State Moorhead 19-18 on Thursday night in Moorhead, Minn.

Trailing 15-7 after the duals first six matches, the Mavericks would win three of the final four matches to comeback and down the Dragons as they improve to 3-0 in NSIC action.

Senior Ben Becker, ranked eighth in the 174-lb weight class, would spark the Mavericks comeback with a 9-5 win by decision over Trent Sovde before MSU would even the match at 15-15 with a 21-4 tech fall win by junior Aaron Norgren. The fifth-ranked Norgren won the 184-lb match at the 6:47 mark.

The 197-lb match would prove to be the deciding match of the night as junior Pat Mahan gave the Mavericks their first lead of the evening earning a four-point major decision win defeating Brian Woelfel 8-0.

The Dragons would win the final match of the night as Jon Swart defeated freshman Nate Haynes by a 7-2 decision but would fall one-point short as the Mavericks escaped with the 19-18 victory.

Two other Mavericks earned wins on the night as freshman Paul Norgren won the 141-lb match with a 7-5 decision over Robert Otterness and sophomore Jesse Westphal won the 149-lb match with a 7-0 major decision win over Tyler Steinwand.

The win gives the Mavericks a 7-2 overall record while they advance to a perfect 3-0 in the NSIC. The loss drops the Dragons to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in NSIC action.

Minnesota State will be back in action on January 27th as they return home to face NSIC opponent Upper Iowa. The dual is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. at Bresnan Arena on the campus of Minnesota State.

MSU-Mankato 19 MSU-Moorhead 18