A Tough Home Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/09/15)—No.2-ranked St. Cloud State lived up to its defending NCAA Division II national champion status as they won nine of the 10 matches from the No.19-ranked Cobbers and handed Concordia a 39-3 dual-meet loss.

The loss is the first for the Cobbers in the dual-meet season and drops their record to 6-1. The Huskies are now 2-0.

Ben Cousins provided the lone win for Concordia. He thrilled fans with a 4-2 win over Travis Holt at 157.

Cousins scored all four of his points at the end of the second period and start of the third period after being on the defensive for most of the first period and into second period. Cousins got a takedown at the end of the second to take a 2-1 lead. He then posted the match-winning points on a reversal after starting the third period from the down position.

Cousin's had to survive a last-minute rally from Holt. Leading 4-1, Holt was able to escape to get within one at 4-2 and then tried several leg "shots" in the final seconds but each time Cousins was able to deflect the attack and keep Holt from getting the match-tying takedown.

Cousins has now won four straight matches and is 11-9 on the year. He was 3-0 at last weekend's Wis.-La Crosse Duals meet.  

Concordia's other non-bonus point losses came at 133 and 125. The match started at 133 and No.5 ranked Gabe Foltz lost 8-2. Foltz was never able to recover from a takedown and a near fall in the first period of action. The loss ended Foltz' five-match win streak. Foltz is 10-6 on the season with all six losses coming at the hands of Division I or II athletes.

Sophomore Jakob Stageberg went back-and-forth in a scoreless first period at 125 in the last match of the night. He then got behind on a reversal to start the second and wound up losing 7-1. Stageberg is now 15-6 on the year.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Concordia will finish off its two-match home stand when they host former MIAC foe St. Olaf on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Concordia beat the Oles 51-3 in Northfield last year. St. Olaf is 0-3 in dual meets this season.   

Individual Match Results:
133 - Jarred Oftedahl (SCSU) decision Gabe Foltz (CC); 8-2 (St. Cloud St. 3-0)
141 - Tanner Trembley (SCSU) pin fall Karl Keeler (CC); 2:17 (St. Cloud St. 9-0)
149 - Jay Hildreth (SCSU major decision Ty Johnson (CC); 15-2 (St. Cloud St. 13-0)
157 - Ben Cousins (CC) decision Travis Holt (SCSU); 4-2 (St. Cloud St. 13-3)
165 - #1 Clint Poster technical fall Joe Heinz (CC); 17-1 (6:53) (St. Cloud St. 18-3)
174 - Clayton Jennissen (SCSU) maj. dec. Dane Ringquist (CC); 12-3 (St. Cloud St. 22-3)
184 - Uthman Rabiu (SCSU) major decision Ricky Briggs (CC); 15-4 (St. Cloud St. 26-3)
197 - VJ Giulio (SCSU) major decision Dan Marquette (CC); 11-3 (St. Cloud St. 30-3)
285 - #1 Austin Goergen pin fall Tyler Hoffman (CC); 2:19 (St. Cloud St. 36-3)
125 - Tanner Johnsroy (SCSU) decision Jakob Stageberg (CC); 7-1 (St. Cloud St. 39-3)