Hofstra sophomore Charles Griffin recorded his second fall of the season and senior Mike Patrovich posted a win by decision, but the second-ranked Cowboys of Oklahoma State captured the other matches on the way to a 34-9 victory over the Pride Friday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys, who have won 33 of 34 home matches over the last four years, improved to 15-1 on the season. Hofstra fell to 10-7-1.
The Cowboys jumped out to a 12-0 lead as fourth-ranked sophomore Coleman Scott (22-3) pinned Pride freshman Jon Fennell (0-10) in 1:36 of the 125-pound match and second-ranked Nathan Morgan took home the forfeit win at 133 pounds. Griffin put the Pride on the board with a pin of junior Ethan Kyle one minute into the second period. Griffin improved to 21-5 on the season and 11-3 in dual matches.
In one of the showcase matches of the night, Hofstra senior Jon Masa, ranked fourth at 149 pounds, squared off against #3 Zack Esposito. The OSU senior posted two takedowns in the first for a 4-1 lead and added a reversal and a takedown in the second on the way to a 9-2 victory over Hofstra's two-time All-American. Esposito boosted his record to 19-2 while Masa dropped just his sixth match in 32 outings this year.
In another top 20 match-up at 157 pounds, OSU's 15th-ranked senior Kevin Ward (18-9) took a 3-0 lead into the final period on the way to a 3-1 victory over #14 James Strouse (23-10). Hofstra junior Chris Vondruska (19-9) had the dubious task to face OSU's second-ranked junior Johny Hendricks (20-1). The 2005 NCAA champion jumped out to a 6-2 lead after the first period and cruised to a 9-3 victory. Hofstra senior Mike Patrovich stopped OSU's three-match winning streak at 174-pounds. The sixth-ranked Long Island native posted two takedowns in the first and another in the third period to record a 6-3 victory over #9 Brandon Mason. Patrovich improved to 24-3 while Mason slipped to 19-9.
But the Cowboys finished strong, winning the final three matches including a sudden-victory decision at 184 pounds. Hofstra's 19th-ranked sophomore Joe Rovelli (22-9) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first period only to see Cowboy senior Rusty Blackmon (15-11) battle back and send the match into overtime with a takedown and a stalling penalty in the final minute of the third period. Blackmon then took Rovelli down with eight seconds remaining in sudden victory for the win. At 197 pounds, third-ranked senior Jake Rosholt (19-3) jumped out to a 6-1 lead after one period and cruised to a 12-3 major decision over Hofstra junior Chris Weidman (15-6). The nation's second-ranked heavyweight Steve Mocco (20-1) wrapped things up for the Cowboys with a pin of Pride junior Jon Andriac (20-12) at the 2:47 mark of the first period.
The Pride will face #11 Oklahoma on Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET) in the first match of the ESPNU Double Sport Invitational at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Top-ranked Minnesota and second-ranked Oklahoma square off at 3 p.m. (ET). Both matches will be televised live on ESPNU.
#2 OklahomaState34, #20 Hofstra 9
125 - #4 Coleman Scott (OS) WBF Jon Fennell (HU), 1:36
133 - #2 Nathan Morgan (OS) won by forfeit
141 - #12 Charles Griffin (HU) WBF Ethan Kyle (OS), 4:00
149 - #3 Zack Esposito (OS) dec. #4 Jon Masa (HU), 9-2
157 - #15 Kevin Ward (OS) dec. #14 James Strouse (HU), 3-1
165 - #2 Johny Hendricks (OS) dec. Chris Vondruska (HU), 9-3
174 - #6 Mike Patrovich (HU) dec. #11 Brandon Mason (OS), 6-3
184 - Rusty Blackmon (OS) dec. #19 Joe Rovelli (HU), 10-8 in SV
197 - #3 Jake Rosholt (OS) maj. dec. Chris Weidman (HU), 12-3
285 - #2 Steve Mocco (OS) WBF Jon Andriac (HU), 2:47
