HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 27, 2023) – Seniors Kyle Slendorn and Hunter Gutierrez posted consecutive pins, but No. 12 Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling fell to New York University 22-19 Friday evening in a non-conference dual match at Canavan Arena.

First-year Jason Smith had a major at 157 and junior Stefan Major had an impressive decision victory at 174 for the Ducks, who totaled four wins on the night, but saw their dual record drop to 7-3.

Taisei Kurachi had a major decision and Gabe Rodrigues had a pin at 197 to lead NYU, who won six of the 10 matches to improve to 8-3 on the year. The teams have split the last four meetings.

Kurachi got the evening started with a 10-2 major decision over junior Luke Hoerle. Hoerle scored the first two points of the match with a takedown, but Kurachi scored the next six points to take a 6-2 lead heading into the final period. Kurachi scored a takedown from the top position to start the final period, then received a stall point, which ultimately proved to be a key point in the match because with riding time in hand, Karachi added a point at the final whistle to add a bonus point to NYU's score.

Trailing 7-0 through two bouts, the Ducks turned to a pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers in Slendorn (No. 3/3) and Gutierrez (No. 7/4) and neither wrestler disappointed. Gutierrez pinned Kruczynski in 2:25, while Gutierrez pinned Daniel Husain in 2:10 to put the Ducks in front 12-7.

Smith put on an offensive display in the final period against Thomas Lapinski, scoring 15 points over the last two minutes to score a 21-7 major decision. Lapinski was warned for stalling three times in the final period and Smith added five takedowns to produce the final margin of victory. 

No. 6 Cooper Pontelandolfo scored a 6-0 decision at 165 to trim the Ducks' lead to 16-10, but Major topped No. 7/4 Jason Geyer via a 7-2 decision in a top-10 showdown at 174. Leading 3-2 through two periods, Major escaped from the bottom position at the start of the final period, before connecting for a late takedown to secure the victory. Major received the riding time point to provide the final margin.

Scott DuPont held off senior Frank Medina in the final seconds at 184 to score an 8-6 victory and Rodrigues posted a second-period pin at 197 to knot the dual heading into the final match of the evening.

Graduate student Michael Dooley and NYU's Evan Anderson battled through a scoreless first period at heavyweight, before Dooley reversed out of Anderson's grasp at the start of the second period. Anderson would escape and would do so again at the start of the final period to tie the bout score at two. Over the final 90 seconds, Anderson scored a pair of takedowns, both of which Dooley escaped out of. Despite grabbing hold of Anderson in the final seconds, Dooley was unable to score the final takedown leading to NYU's heavyweight claiming a 6-4 decision and giving NYU the narrow 22-19 victory. 

Up Next: No. 12 Wrestling returns to the mats tomorrow evening for a dual at No. 2 Johnson & Wales University. The Ducks topped the Wildcats 21-16 on Jan. 25, 2020 in the last meeting between the programs. Saturday's tilt will be the first dual between the programs in Providence.

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