Drexel secures EIWA Independence Division title with 39-6 win over LIU
PHILADELPHIA — Drexel defeated Long Island University 39-6 on Feb. 15 and clinched the EIWA Independence Division crown.
PHILADELPHIA — Drexel defeated Long Island University 39-6 on Feb. 15, clinching the EIWA Independence Division title.
No. 33 Desmond Pleasant opened the dual with a 21-6 technical fall at 125 pounds, building his margin with takedowns in both periods and a second-period reversal that closed the match. No. 33 Kyle Waterman followed with a pin at 133 and No. 23 Jordan Soriano added a second-period fall at 141 to give Drexel a 17-0 edge after three bouts.
Deon Pleasant extended the lead with a 6-1 decision at 149, combining a first-period takedown, a Period 2 escape and an awarded penalty point. LIU responded at 157 when Brayden Roberts posted a 9-0 major decision, the visitors’ lone multi-point swing of the early card.
Drexel added two more falls in the middle weights. Cody Walsh finished by pin at 165 after takedowns and a second-period nearfall. Dom Findora recorded multiple takedowns across the first two periods and secured a fall at 174.
Ethan Wilson, No. 33 at 184, rallied from a 3-0 first-period deficit to score an escape and a takedown in the second and a late escape for a 5-3 decision. Ibrahim Ameer closed the upperweights with a 17-2 technical fall at 197, pacing the match with a first-period nearfall and additional second-period takedowns.
LIU’s Chris Powell won the finale at 285 by decision, 5-0.
Drexel collected four pins and balanced scoring across the lineup to reach the 39-6 final. The host program noted the victory secured the EIWA Independence Division title for the second consecutive season, honored a class of seniors before the dual and listed the team’s season mark following the win.