WEST POINT, N.Y. – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling program opened its EIWA season today with a 27-9 loss to Army West Point. Penn battled throughout the dual, but a stretch of five consecutive decisions for the Black Knights built a lead which the Quakers could not overcome.
 
With the dual starting at 141 pounds, No. 17 Doug Zapf continued to dominate in his sophomore season. The Downingtown native got the Quakers off to a positive start with a 7-5 decision over the Black Knights' Corey Shie. Down 4-1 in the first, Zapf cut his deficit to one following a single leg takedown. He carried that momentum into the third period with almost an immediate escape and takedown to take his first lead of the evening at 5-4. Shie would eventually escape to tie the match, but Zapf never stopped wrestling late into the third period, taking a single leg to secure the 7-5 decision.
 
Army responded to the early adversity in a big way, taking the five consecutive decisions with two bonus point decisions to storm out to an 18-3 lead.
 
At 197, Cole Urbas fielded a much-needed response for the Quakers' second win of the day. Down 2-0 early, Urbas snapped Army's J.T. Brown to the mat and secured a leg for a takedown to tie it at 2-2. Urbas elected to start top in the third and held on to Brown for the entire period. With the clock ticking under one minute, Urbas flipped Brown onto his back and pinned his shoulders to the mat for a four-point nearfall. He stayed on top for the match's final seconds to take a 6-1 decision.
 
Ben Goldin battled at heavyweight in a match that entered the final period 1-0 in his favor. Army's Bobby Heald would quickly escape from bottom to tie the match, and with seconds left secure a high leg for a takedown. The win extended Army's lead to 21-6, and a Penn forfeit at 125 extended that lead to 27-6 heading into the final match.
 
Carmen Ferrante stepped up at 133 with the dual victory out of reach but plenty to fight for still. He and Army's Lane Peters scrapped in a hard-fought match with bout's lone point in the first two periods scored by a Peters escape. Ferrante started bottom in the final period and would have to fight for the entire final two minutes. With Peters holding on to Ferrante with a vice grip in the bout's final seconds, Ferrante broke free with Peters on the mat and grabbed a leg for a quick three points to secure a 3-1 decision.
 
UP NEXT
The Quakers will look to bounce back with a pair of EIWA duals this Sunday in The Palestra. Penn will wrestle Binghamton first at 1 p.m. and will host LIU for the first time at 6 p.m.
 
Army Defeats Penn, 27-9
141: Doug Zapf (Penn) def. Corey Shie (Army), 7-5; Penn leads 3-0
149: P.J. Ogunsanya (Army) def. Lucas Revano (Penn), 8-1; Dual is tied 3-3
157: Luke Wyland (Army) def. Jeremy Ridge (Penn), 16-1 TF; Army leads 8-3
165: No. 24 Cael McCormick (Army) def. Jake Lizak (Penn), 7-2; Army leads 11-3
174: No. 24 Ben Harvey (Army) def. Neil Antrassian (Penn), 16-2 MD; Army Leads 15-3
184: Sahm Abdulrazzaq (Army) def. Jake Hendricks (Penn), 7-5; Army leads 18-3
197: Cole Urbas (Penn) def. J.T. Brown (Army), 6-2; Army leads 18-6
285: Bobby Heald (Army) def. Ben Goldin (Penn), 3-1; Army leads 21-6
125: Army wins by forfeit; Army leads 27-6
133: Carmen Ferrante (Penn) def. Layne Peters (Army), 3-1; Army leads 27-9