Feb. 13, 2008

College Park, Md. - The American University wrestling team was defeated Wednesday night, 37-14, by No. 23 University of Maryland in the Comcast Pavilion. No. 6 Mike Cannon gave AU its first lead of the night, 14-13, with his seventh fall of the year but the Eagles' upper weights were unable to hold off the Terps.

The loss, which drops AU to 3-13 overall on the year, was the Eagles' sixth this season against a ranked opponent. Maryland on the other hand improves to 14-4 with the win.

Action started Wednesday at 125 lbs. where American was forced to forfeit to Brendan Byrne, putting the Terps up 6-0 to begin the match.

Matt Mariacher and Steven Bell squared off at 133 lbs. with Bell scoring first with a takedown at the 1:30 mark. Mariacher escaped from Bell after just 22 seconds of riding time and had the choice to begin the second period. Trailing 2-1, Mariacher chose to begin the period down and tied the match at two with 1:03 left in the period after breaking Bell's waist lock. As time wound down in the second, Mariacher landed a single leg shot for his first lead of the night, 4-2, gaining control just before the buzzer sounded. Bell started the third period down and scored a reversal to even the score quickly. After approximately one minute of riding time, Mariacher escaped Bell to take a 5-4 lead. Bell's riding time advantage over Mariacher tied the score at five and moved the match into sudden victory overtime. Bell opened the overtime period with a shot that Mariacher was able to avoid but a second shot caught the freshman and ended the match, 7-5, in favor of Bell

Kyle Borshoff took a 2-0 lead over Mookie Golden at 141 lbs. 90 seconds into the match with a takedown and rode him for over one minute before scoring three back points near the 2:30 mark. Borshoff quickly rolled Golden to his back a second time and was awarded two more back points as the first period buzzer sounded. Borshoff began the second down and escaped from Golden to push his lead to 8-0. A takedown by Borshoff and subsequent escape by Golden moved the score to 10-1, where it would stay until the beginning of the third. Borshoff again started the period down and again scored quickly with an escape. Leading 11-1, Borshoff took Golden down twice more before the end of the match and with more than two minutes of riding time, Borshoff earned a tech-fall over Golden, 17-2. AU cut into Maryland's lead with the victory, moving the team scores to 5-9.

Borshoff's tech-fall was his second of the season and his eighth-consecutive win. His overall record now stands at 20-6 while he is 13-3 in dual meets.

Chris Clarke wrestled for AU at 149 lbs. against Eric Medina who earned a major decision over the Eagle, 11-2, and put the Terps up by eight in the team scores, 5-13.

Christopher Stout got on the scoreboard first at 157 lbs. with a takedown of Brian Letters approximately two minutes in. The score was tied quickly though as Letters reversed Stout before the end of the period. Stout began the second on top and remained in control for the entire period despite several near escapes by Letters. At one point at the end of the period it looked as if Letters had reversed Stout as he attempted a cradle for back points but Stout was able to regain control before giving up any points. Stout started period three down with the score still tied, 2-2. At the 6:30 mark, Letters was called for a violation which put Stout ahead, 3-2. Letters was forced to cut Stout in hopes of scoring a last second takedown to even the score but was stalemated by Stout who held off the Terp for a 4-2 decision. The decision put American back within reach in the team scores as they trailed by just five, 8-13.

Stout's overall record improves to 20-10 with the win. Stout has won each of his last five matches and seven of his last eight.

Cannon, who garnered his highest individual ranking this season on Wednesday of sixth, took the mat at 165 lbs. against Ryan Kennett and wasted little time, scoring a takedown just 28 seconds in. Cannon spent the next 1:30 riding Kennett and scored two back points before the action was stopped for a dangerous position. Cannon went right back to work after the restart and at the end of the first period was leading, 4-0, with more than 2:32 of riding time. Cannon chose to being the second down and escaped before the midway point to increase his lead to five. Cannon countered a Kennett shot at the 3:30 mark after Kennett lost his balance and scored five points on the maneuver, two for a takedown and three for a near fall. The wrestlers began the third period neutral but Cannon was quick to get on the offensive, taking Kennett down and ending the match with a fall at 5:28. AU took its first lead in the team scores with the fall, 14-13.

Cannon improves to 20-2 overall with the win and 15-1 in dual meets. Cannon has won 14 matches with bonus points, including a team-high seven by pin fall.

American's lead was short lived as the Terrapins took the next four weight classes and the match, 37-14.

The Eagles will be back in action on Sunday as they travel to Lewisburg, Pa., to meet Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association foe Bucknell. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Tomorrow, Feb. 14, AU will host Team USA and Belarus in an international freestyle wrestling showcase at 7 p.m. in Bender Arena. Tickets are still available for this world-class event and are available by calling the AU ticket office at 202-885-TIXX, or by clicking here.

Maryland 37, AU 14

125 - Brendan Byrne (MU) def. AU, Forfeit

133 - Steven Bell (MU) def. Matt Mariacher (AU), Dec. 7-5 SV

141 - Kyle Borshoff (AU) def. Mookie Golden (MU), Tech-Fall 17-2 (7:00)

149 - Eric Medina (MU) def. Chris Clarke (AU), Major Dec. 11-2

157 - Christopher Stout (AU) def. Brian Letters (MU), Dec. 4-2

165 - No. 6 Mike Cannon (AU) def. Ryan Kennett (MU), Fall (5:28)

174 - No. 9 Mike Letts (MU) def. Jonathon Powell (AU)0:26

184 - No. 19 Josh Haines (MU) def. Brooks Keefer (AU), Fall (0:22)

197 - No. 5 Hudson Taylor (MU) def. Andy Semple (AU), Fall (4:34)

HWT - Patrick Gilmore (MU) def. AU, Forfeit