NIU wrestling coach Ed Vatch, this weekend wasn’t a matter of whether his team won or lost, but how they played (wrestled) the game.

Vatch’s feeling came from a weekend which saw the Huskies scratch their way to an 18-12 win over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Friday before falling to Northwestern University 22-21 in a Saturday matchup.

“I think we’re more satisfied with Saturday’s loss than we were when we won on Friday,” Vatch said. “Against a team which was fourth in the NCAA’s last year (Northwestern), we came a long way.”

The host Northwestern wrestling Wildcats held on to win after posting an early 17-3 lead. The Huskies’ furious comeback attempt fell just short, despite a Northwestern forfeit at heavyweight.

Jim Kossakowski’s pin at 167 pounds pulled NIU within five points (17-12), but an NIU technical fall at 177 all but killed any hopes of pulling off the upset.