CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Late scores hurt the 23rd-ranked Navy wrestling team (6-5, 1-2 EIWA) in its, 20-17, loss to North Carolina (8-6, 0-1 ACC) on Sunday at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Tar Heels won six bouts (141, 157, 174, 184, 197, 125) and scored five takedowns with 15 seconds or less in the dual.

The most anticipated matchup between No. 5 Lachlan McNeil and No. 12 Josh Koderhandt (141) kicked off the dual. McNeil scored his first point from an escape to start the second period and then recorded a takedown to go ahead, 4-0. Koderhandt escaped to get on the scoreboard, but McNeil answered with another takedown with just four seconds remaining in the period to gain a 7-1 advantage. Koderhandt opened the final period with a reversal. After an escape by McNeil, Koderhandt scored his first takedown to decrease his deficit to just two. McNeil escaped out of the takedown and didn't surrender any additional points to win by a 9-6 decision and give North Carolina a 3-0 lead. 

Kaemen Smith (149) won the first match for the Mids in the following bout against Wil Guida to tie the dual, 3-3. Guida was called for a headlock early in the first period to give Smith a 1-0 lead. Smith posted his first takedown seconds later to gain a 4-0 cushion. Guida scored an escape and then a takedown with only 13 seconds on the clock to tie the match. Smith began the second period with a reversal to go up, 6-4. Guida then scored an escape and looked to be in position to take the lead with a takedown. However, Smith scrambled out of Guida's grip and recorded a takedown himself to take a 9-5 lead. Guida posted an escape before the end of the period to make the score, 9-6. Smith chose the top position to begin the third to add more riding time. Guida escaped 13 seconds into the final period, but Smith took back control with his third takedown. Smith ended the match with 1:02 of riding time to add an extra point to win by a 13-9 decision. 

Sonny Santiago struck first in the 157-pound bout against Jonathan Ley with a takedown in the opening period. Ley scored an escape before the period ended and added another in the second to make the score, 3-2. Santiago recorded an escape early in the third and defended Ley's late push to win the match by a 4-2 decision. His victory gave North Carolina a 6-3 lead on the scoreboard. 

Andrew Cerniglia (165), who entered the dual ranked 19th in the nation, ended his match against Isaias Estrada in just 42 seconds with a pin to give Navy a 9-6 lead. 

Tyler Eischens was ahead, 7-0, early in the first period against No. 27 Danny Wask (174) after scoring a takedown and a four-point near fall. Wask responded with a great end to the first period, posting an escape and a takedown to make the score, 7-4. Wask outscored Eischens, 6-2, in the second period thanks to a pair of takedowns to gain a 10-9 advantage. Wask earned a free point after Eischens was called for stalling for the second time. Wask then scored an escape to gain to take a 12-9 lead. Eischens tied the match after scoring a takedown with just 12 seconds to go. He then scored the match-winning takedown in sudden victory to defeat Wask by a 15-12 decision and tie the dual, 9-9. 

The Tar Heels took the lead back with a win by No. 23 Gavin Kane against David Key (184). Key scored the first takedown in the opening period. Kane answered with an escape and then tied the match with a reversal to begin the second period. Key retook the lead with an escape, but Kane scored a takedown with only three seconds remaining in the period to take his first lead. After an escape by Key in the third period, Kane gained a four-point lead with his second takedown. Kane concluded the match with over a minute of riding time to win by a 10-6 decision. 

Daniel Williams (197) battled hard against No. 19 Max Shaw, but fell short in his comeback effort. Shaw gained a 3-0 lead after scoring a takedown midway through the first period. Williams added the next two points from a pair of escapes to make the score, 3-2. Shaw posted an escape to start the final period, but was then called for stalling for the second time. Shaw countered Williams' offensive attacks for the remainder of the match and finished with 1:14 of riding time to win by a 5-3 decision.

The Mids needed a big win from No. 20 Grady Griess at heavyweight now behind, 15-9, in the dual. Griess answered the call with a 17-2 (6:39) win by technical fall against Cade Lautt. Griess held a 10-1 lead after three minutes thanks to a pair of takedowns and a four-point near fall. Griess entered the third period with over three minutes of riding time and ended the match with two more takedowns to earn the win by technical fall. His victory earned Navy five points to bring it back within a point in the dual. 

North Carolina garnered its only bonus points in the following match from a 19-4 (6:26) technical fall by No. 29 Spencer Moore over Hayden Benter (125) to retake a six-point lead. 

Thirty-third-ranked Brendan Ferretti (133) concluded the dual with an impressive 8-5 decision against Jace Palmer, but the victory only added three points to the scoreboard. 

The Mids will be back in Annapolis for the first time since Nov. 18 to host Lock Haven on Feb. 2 and Bucknell on Feb. 3. Both duals will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Hall.

Navy vs. North Carolina Dual Results
141 | No. 5 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina) dec No. 12 Josh Koderhandt (Navy), 9-6 // North Carolina 3, Navy 0
149 | Kaemen Smith (Navy) dec Wil Guida (North Carolina), 13-9 // North Carolina 3, Navy 3
157 | Sonny Santiago (North Carolina) dec Jonathan Ley (Navy), 4-2 // North Carolina 6, Navy 3
165 | No. 19 Andrew Cerniglia (Navy) fall Isaias Estrada (North Carolina), 0:42 // Navy 9, North Carolina 6
174 | Tyler Eischens (North Carolina) dec No. 27 Danny Wask (Navy), 15-12 SV 1 // North Carolina 9, Navy 9
184 | No. 23 Gavin Kane (North Carolina) dec David Key (Navy), 10-6 // North Carolina 12, Navy 9
197 | No. 19 Max Shaw (North Carolina) dec Daniel Williams (Navy), 5-3 // North Carolina 15, Navy 9
285 | No. 20 Grady Griess (Navy) tech fall Cade Lautt (North Carolina), 17-2 (6:39) // North Carolina 15, Navy 14
125 | No. 29 Spencer Moore (North Carolina) tech fall Hayden Benter (Navy), 19-4 (6:26) // North Carolina 20, Navy 14
133 | No. 33 Brendan Ferretti (Navy) dec Jace Palmer (North Carolina), 8-5 // North Carolina 20, Navy 17
Attendance: 813

Navy vs. North Carolina Notes
• Navy is on its first five dual losing streak since the 2008-09 season
• The loss marks just the fourth time the Mids have lost five-straight duals in their 116-year history
• Cerniglia claimed his 13th-consecutive win to improve to 17-3 this season
• The senior is 8-1 in duals this season and 23-4 in his career. His 85.2 winning percentage in duals ranks first on the team
• Cerniglia won a dual match by fall for the first time since Feb. 6, 2022. It was his 10th victory by fall in his career
• Griess earned the 70th win in his career. He leads the team with 19 victories this season
• Smith won his third-consecutive dual match. The sophomore ended last season with a 9-17 record and won just two of his eight duals. He is now 18-8 overall and 3-1 in duals this season
• The Erie, Pa., native had lost his previous two matches against Guida
• Ferretti snapped his five-match losing skid with his first victory since Jan. 5 at the Franklin & Marshall Open
• Koderhandt suffered his first loss in a dual during the 2023-24 campaign. He had won his previous 14 dual matches dating back to last season
• McNeil is the fourth opponent Koderhandt has wrestled ranked in the top 10 this season