COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Dragons dropped a pair of close matches on Saturday afternoon at the Maryland Duals. Drexel tallied a combined nine wins against Duke and Maryland, coming up just short 25-20 to the Blue Devils and 21-19 to the Terrapins.

Evan Barczak highlighted the afternoon with a pair of wins against the Blue Devils and the Terrapins, improving to 4-1 in dual competition on the year.
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The Dragons opened Saturday's double header with a strong performance against Duke. Despite taking a loss at 125lbs, the Dragons rallied at 133lbs and 141lbs, allowing them to take a 10-6 lead through three matches. Deon Pleasant and Jared Donahue each recorded their first dual victories of the year; Pleasant with a dominant 2:30 fall victory and Donahue with an 11-0 major decision.

The Blue Devils answered back with a pair of wins, first tying the match for the second time at 149lbs and then retaking the lead at 157lbs with Wade Unger's 6-4 decision victory over Parker Kropman at the buzzer.

Barczak took his first victory of the day with a big 13-4 decision over Brandon LaRue, giving Drexel the 14-13 advantage. Mickey O'Malley found a tough matchup in No. 7 Matt Finesilver, dropping his second dual of the year in a tight 6-2 decision. Bryan McLaughlin brought some life back to the Dragons lineup, recording his fifth fall victory of the year and boosting Drexel to a 20-16 lead. The Dragons battled until the end, but the Blue Devils caught fire in the final two matches to take home the victory, 25-20.

Drexel 20, Duke 25
125 | Logan Agin fall (0:33) Antonio Mininno, 6-0 Duke
133 | Deon Pleasant fall (2:30) Drake Doolittle, Tied 6-6 
141 | Jared Donahue major dec. (11-0) Patrick Rowland, 10-6 Drexel
149 | Josh Finesilver major dec. (13-5) Tyler Williams, Tied 10-10
157 | Wade Unger dec. (6-4) Parker Kropman, 13-10 Duke
165 | Evan Barczak dec. (13-4) Brandon LaRue, 14-13 Drexel
174 | Matt Finesilver dec. (6-2) Mickey O'Malley, 16-14 Duke
184 | Bryan McLaughlin fall (2:30) Luke Chakonis, 20-16 Drexel
197 | Kaden Russell dec. (7-1) Santino Morina, 20-19 Drexel
285 | Jonah Niesenbaum fall (4:51) Liam Dietrich, 25-20 Duke
Exhibition 174: Riley Onorato dec. (3-1) Conor Becker
 
After a tough loss against the Blue Devils, Mininno got Drexel off to a hot start against the Terrapins with 10-2 decision. Maryland followed with two victories at 133lbs and 141lbs. Drexel changed the pace from 149lbs to 174lbs, recording four straight wins from Williams, Kropman, Barczak and O'Malley, giving the Dragons a healthy 19-9 lead heading into the final three weight classes. Maryland took a technical fall and major decision at 197 and 285, sealing the deal on a team victory.
 
Drexel 19, Maryland 21
125 | Antonio Mininno dec. (10-2) Zach Spence, 4-0 Drexel
133 | King Sandoval fall (2:00) Deon Pleasant, 6-4 Maryland
141 | Danny Bertoni dec. (6-0) Jared Donahue, 9-4 Maryland
149 | Tyler Williams dec. (7-2) Michael North, 9-7 Maryland
157 | Parker Kropman SV (14-12) Lucas Cordio, 10-9 Drexel
165 | Evan Barczak dec. (7-6) No. 31 John Martin Best, 13-9 Drexel
174 | Mickey O'Malley fall (4:51) Dom Solis, 19-9 Drexel
184 | Kyle Cochran dec (8-5) Bryan McLaughlin, 19-12 Drexel
197 | Jaron Smith tech fall (17-2, 7:00) Santino Morina, 19-17 Drexel
285 | No.33 Zach Schrader major dec. (17-5) Eli Anthony, 21-19 Maryland
 
Up Next:
The Dragons don't compete again until the new year when they travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. for the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2.