Kolodzik Rallies To Win Top-4 Showdown, But Lehigh Proves Too Much For Princeton

Friday, December 9

Bethlehem, Pa.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

Lehigh

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

Kolodzik Rallies To Win Top-4 Showdown, But Lehigh Proves Too Much For Princeton

December 10, 2016 | Wrestling

The 11th-ranked Lehigh Mountain Hawks improved their win streak to 13 over Princeton Friday night with an impressive 34-3 home win over the Tigers. While Lehigh won nine of 10 matches overall, the highlight showdown went to the visitors. Tiger freshman Matthew Kolodzik, currently ranked fourth nationally, improved to 11-0 on the year with a 6-4 overtime win over third-ranked Randy Cruz.

Kolodzik rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the first period, and then a 3-2 deficit with two minutes of riding time against him to open the third. He started the final period by riding the two-time EIWA champion for a minute, and then he cut him to chase the takedown. He was able to get that within seconds, and he rode Cruz the rest of the way to force the sudden victory period.

You can see Kolodzik's OT win below.

While Lehigh won the team match, check out #4 Matt Kolodzik's OT takedown and win over #3 Randy Cruz in OT Friday night. pic.twitter.com/V8Op2BppON
— Princeton Tigers (@PUTIGERS) December 10, 2016

An undermanned Tiger squad could not build on Kolodzik's momentum. Wrestling without two-time NCAA qualifiers Brett Harner and Jordan Laster, the Tigers simply didn't have the firepower to overcome Lehigh. They will return to the mat Saturday to wrestle Binghamton in the 2016-17 home opener. The 1 pm match can be seen live on the Ivy League Digital Network.

No. 11 Lehigh 34, Princeton 3
125 – Darian Cruz (Lehigh) tech fall Matteo DeVincenzo (Princeton) 16-0, 3:31
133 – Scott Parker (Lehigh) dec. Pat D'Arcy (Princeton) 10-3
141 – Matt Kolodzik (Princeton) dec. Randy Cruz (Lehigh) 6-4, sv
149 – Laike Gardner (Lehigh) major dec. Max Rogers (Princeton) 14-3
157 – Kent Lane (Lehigh) dec. Mike D'Angelo (Princeton) 10-5
165 – Drew Longo (Lehigh) tech fall Francesco Fabozzi (Princeton) 26-11, 6:55
174 – Ryan Preisch (Lehigh) dec. Jonathan Schleifer (Princeton) 6-1
184 – Kyle Gentile (Lehigh) dec. Ian Baker (Princeton) 6-3
197 – Ben Haas (Lehigh) tech fall Troy Murtha (Princeton) 20-5, 6:11
285 – Doug Vollaro (Lehigh) dec. Ray O'Donnell (Princeton) 5-2