CHADRON, Neb. Sage Harrison's pin at 197 pounds pulled 13th-ranked Western Colorado even with host Chadron State College Friday night, but the Eagles scored a pin in the final match to steal a 23-17 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory over the Mountaineers.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Chadron State def. Western Colorado, 23-17
Records: Western 5-3 overall (2-1 RMAC), Chadron State 1-2 (1-2)
Location: Chicoine Center, Chadron, Neb.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The night got off to a hot start for Western as Roberto Estrada dominated the opening match at 125 pounds. He led 6-1 after the first period then piled on the points in the second, eventually scoring a 19-3 technical fall at the 5:48 mark of the match.
- Chadron rallied back, though, earning decisions at 133 and 141 before adding a major decision at 149 to take a 10-5 lead.
- Vincent Cabral halted the Eagles' run in the next match, earning an escape point in the second to break a 0-0 deadlock, and recording a takedown in the third to pull out a tough, 5-1 decision after adding a riding time point.
- With its lead whittled down to 10-8, Chadron had to bounce back from Cabral's win, and did so in major fashion at 165, earning a major decision to increase the advantage on the scoreboard to 14-8.
- The dual continued to flip-flop with Cole Hernandez, ranked No. 1 in the NWCA rankings at 174 pounds, getting a 14-8 decision only to have the Eagles respond with a decision at 184.
- Harrison stepped onto the mat needing at least a decision, and bested that requirement by building a 17-3 lead before finishing the match with a pin at the 6:43 mark.
- Chadron, however, broke the 17-17 tie with a second-period fall in the 285 match to claim the upset victory.
UP NEXT
Western continues its three-day road trip, returning from Nebraska with a detour to Golden, Colo., where on Saturday night it will battle Colorado School of Mines in another RMAC dual.
