HOBOKEN, N.J. — For the first time in program history, the New Jersey City University men's wrestling program battled another Division III squad in Hudson County, taking on #7-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology on the road on Friday night, Jan. 5. It was a tough one for the Gothic Knights, who put up some tight losses in the defeat at the Ducks.

Among other matches, NJCU fifth-year captain and 157-pounder Jeff Johnson (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) suffered his first loss of the season via an 8-7 decision. Trailing 3-0 early in the first following a takedown from #5-ranked Ryan Smith, Johnson — who is ranked #2 in the mideast region — fought back with a two-point reversal and then a two-point nearfall to go up 4-3 at the time before Smith closed out the round with an escape point. Smith took control in the second with an escape and a takedown to go up 8-4 before Johnson made it 8-5 with an escape. Starting down in the third, Johnson notched another escape to cut it to 8-6 and then earned another point due to stalling from Smith, but he was unable to get that last takedown and fell by one.

Up Next:
NJCU is right back at it tomorrow afternoon, Jan. 6, on the road in Westminster, Md., to take on #24 McDaniel College beginning at 12:00 p.m.