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MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/3/10)-- No.7-ranked Concordia was an upset away from posting another huge dual-meet win. The Cobbers tried to rally from a 9-0 hole to start their match against cross-town rival MSU Moorhead but came up four points short and lost 22-18.

The defeat is only the fifth of the year for the Cobbers who fall to 11-5 on the season. The Dragons pull off the win and move to 4-9 on the year. It is the fourth straight match that MSU M had faced a nationally ranked opponent.

The meet started with the match at 285 and then went to the 125-lb weight class dual. MSU Moorhead was able to come away with a pin and a decision in the opening two bouts and grabbed a 9-0 lead.

Concordia finally got on the board when Joe Leacox earned a 9-5 decision at 133. Leacox won the match on the strength of a pair of first-period takedowns. He is now 14-6 on the year and has been coming on as of late as he won the individual weight class title at the Dickinson State Open and then finished sixth at last weekend's North Country Invite.

The swing match of the night came at 141 where No.4-ranked Ben Anderson lost for the first time in the past 13 matches. Anderson hadn't lost a match since December and was 26-3 heading into the dual. He got stuck at the end of the first period in his match with Brady Schneeberger. Schneeberger came up with a reversal and then a 3-point near fall in the final minute of the period to come away with the majority of his points. He was able to slow down the match and hold Anderson off in the final two periods.

Trailing 12-3, Justin Berns recorded his 26th win of the year by coming away with a 6-1 decision at 149. Berns scored all his points in the final minute of the second period and in the third frame.

The Dragons then won the dual in the next three matches as they posted a pair of decisions and a major decision. The trio of wins pushed their lead to 22-6. Concordia's most physically imposing wrestlers then went to work and closed the gap to four points at the end of the night. All-American Phil Moenkedick made quick work of his opponent at 184. Moenkedick had an early take down and then got his opponent on his back and came away with a pin fall at 2:43.

CC freshman Nate Schmitz then added to his ever-growing win total. Schmitz finished off the dual meet by scoring a pin at 3:29. Before the pin, Schmitz had scored three takedowns in the first period. The win was Schmitz' team-leading 27th of the season. He has won 10 of his last 12 matches.

Concordia will return home to host their final home dual meet of the 2009-10 season. The Cobbers will square off against the University of Mary on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium. The Cobbers will be looking to earn their school-record 12th dual-meet win of the season.

Match Notes:  

- Meet started at 285.
- #7 Concordia is now 11-5 in dual meets this season.
- MSU Moorhead moves to 4-9 in dual meets in 2009-10.
- MSU Moorhead won six of the 10 matches.

- Concordia won two of their four matches by pin fall.

- Six matches were decided by a decision.

- Three matches were decided by a pin fall.

- One match was decided by a major decision.
- Phil Moenkedick recorded his ninth pin of the year and is now 21-2.
- Justin Berns won his 26th match of the season and is now 26-3 on the year.

- Nate Schmitz earned his team-leading 27th win of the year. He is now 27-10 and has won 10 of his last 12.