Pins come easy for Tristen DeShazer these days.

DeShazer pinned Northern Iowa’s Steven Fitzgerald 1:29 into Friday night’s 133-pound match in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It was DeShazer’s 15th pin of the season and 19th victory overall, which ties him for the team lead.

“He’s got a couple moves he’s pretty dangerous at,” said NIU head coach Dave Grant. “He goes out there and utilizes those particular moves. He’s not shy about getting out there and being aggressive.”

However, it was the only match NIU (4-6 overall, 0-2 MAC) would win on that night. The Huskies lost five matches by three points or less.

“We have to be more offensive,” said Grant, who wrestled at Northern Iowa and was an All-American in 1984. “(We’ve) got to get in there and work on our takedowns and be more aggressive.”

At 174 pounds, Derrick Yant lost his match due to a riding-time point. At 149 pounds Will McDermott, wrestling for Steve Zimmerman who had the flu, lost a close 4-2 decision. At 184 pounds, Brad Dieckhaus lost a 6-4 decision to Alex Dolly, who is ranked No. 15 in the country.

Northern Iowa (7-5, 2-0 WWC) also had the help of two pins of their own, with 2008 All-American Moza Fay pinning Bryan O’Connor at 165 pounds and Christian Brantley pinning NIU’s Zak Saevre at 285.

The Panthers, ranked No. 22 in the country, are one of the better teams NIU has faced so far this season. UNI has four nationally-ranked wrestlers and is the fourth Top 25 team NIU has gone up against this season.

“They’re solid; they don’t make a lot of mistakes,” Grant said. “They’ve got three upperclassman that are good.”

The loss is the Huskies’ third straight. NIU hopes to end the losing streak Friday when it returns to MAC competition, hosting Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

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