FLASH: No. 15 Michigan knocks off No. 10 Lehigh, 24-13

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Junior Darian Cruz opened with a win over a two-time All-American but No. 15 Michigan won the next five bouts, with two bonus wins and two one-point victories by unranked wrestlers over ranked Lehigh wrestlers to help the Wolverines to a 24-13 win over the 10th-ranked Mountain Hawks Sunday at Cliff Keen Arena.


In addition to Darian Cruz’s victory, the Mountain Hawks got decisions from sophomore Ryan Preisch and freshman Andrew Price, plus a major decision by senior Doug Vollaro, but suffered their third straight dual loss, falling to 8-4 on the dual campaign.


Darian Cruz opened the dual with a 4-2 decision over Connor Youtsey at 125. Cruz opened the scoring with a takedown and added a second period escape plus riding time while conceding just a late Youtsey takedown.


Michigan (7-4) took control with five consecutive victories to open up a 20-3 advantage.


Seventh-ranked Stevan Micic put the Wolverines in front with a 21-4 technical fall win over freshman Joe Lobeck, with a late four point near fall helping create the final margin.


At 141, senior Randy Cruz was upset by Michigan’s Sal Profaci, who scored a first period takedown and finished the second period with exactly one minute of riding time. Tied 2-2, Profaci chose neutral in the third and fought off several late takedown attempts by Cruz, using the riding time to win 3-2.


Senior Laike Gardner also dropped a one-point decision to an unranked Wolverine, losing 5-4 to Malik Amine at 149. Gardner led 3-2 after two periods but Amine was able to gain riding time advantage early in the third and then with Gardner leading 4-2, Amine scored a takedown on the edge with eight seconds remaining, and then rode out to win on riding time.


A first period pin by Brian Murphy over freshman Kent Lane at 157 gave the Wolverines a 17-3 lead at intermission.


Senior Mitch Minotti squared off with second-ranked Logan Massa at 165, with Massa scoring the only takedown of the match in the second period to win 6-1.


Preisch finally stopped the Wolverine run with a 6-2 decision over ninth-ranked Myles Amine at 174. Preisch scored an early takedown to lead and added a counter takedown in the third to gain riding time advantage and put the match away.


Price posted his first career dual win in his return to his home state. He gave up the first takedown to Aaron Calderon but answered with takedowns in the first and second periods to post a 6-4 decision at 184.


Sophomore Tom Murray made his Lehigh dual debut, in place of the injured Ben Haas 197, but dropped a 9-0 major decision to Jackson Striggow, who scored a takedown in each period to post Michigan’s third bonus win of the day.


Vollaro closed the dual with Lehigh’s lone bonus win, a 10-1 major decision over Dan Perry at heavyweight. Vollaro scored a takedown in each period, finished with a 4:36 riding time advantage and recorded Lehigh’s lone near fall points of the dual with two in the opening period.


The Mountain Hawks will be off from competition next weekend and will return to action on Friday, February 10 when they welcome Army West Point to Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall for a 7 p.m. dual. Tickets can be purchased online at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during normal business hours.


No. 15 Michigan 24, No. 10 Lehigh 13

125 – Darian Cruz (Lehigh) dec. Connor Youtsey (Michigan) 4-2

133 – Stevan Micic (Michigan) tech fall Joe Lobeck (Lehigh) 21-4, 7:00

141 – Sal Profaci (Michigan) dec. Randy Cruz (Lehigh) 3-2

149 – Malik Amine (Michigan) dec. Laike Gardner (Lehigh) 5-4

157 – Brian Murphy (Michigan) Fall Kent Lane (Lehigh) 1:50

165 – Logan Massa (Michigan) dec. Mitch Minotti (Lehigh) 6-2

174 – Ryan Preisch (Lehigh) dec. Myles Amine (Michigan) 6-2

184 – Andrew Price (Lehigh) dec. Aaron Calderon (Michigan) 6-4

197 – Jackson Striggow (Michigan) major dec. Tom Murray (Lehigh) 9-0

285 – Doug Vollaro (Lehigh) major dec. Dan Perry (Michigan) 10-1