Hempstead, NY - Senior Jonny Bonilla-Bowman and sophomore P.J. Gillespie posted major decisions to lead the Hofstra Pride to a 20-19 non-conference victory over the Bald Eagles of Lock Haven at the Mack Sports Complex Sunday evening. The Pride improve to 2-2-1 on the season while Lock Haven falls to 0-2-0.

The Pride also benefitted from an opening match forfeit win for freshman Luke Vaith (5-4) at 141 pounds to go up 6-0 in the contest. Lock Haven sophomore Brock Parker, ranked 20th by Amateur Wrestling News at 149 pounds, tallied three points in the third period and added the riding time (1:29) point to put the Bald Eagles on the board with a 4-2 win over Pride red-shirt freshman Tyler Banks (4-6).

But Bonilla-Bowman (3-2), ranked 18th by InterMat, boosted the Hofstra lead to 10-3 with a dominating 24-11 major decision over Seth Creasy at 157 pounds. Gillespie, ranked 17th by InterMat at 165 pounds, took a 12-0 lead after two periods on the way to a 13-1 major decision over Kevin Dufresne. Gillespie, a sophomore, improved to 15-4 on the season and bumped the Pride lead to 14-3. Junior Ryan Patrovich, ranked 10th at 174 pounds by InterMat, cruised to a 5-0 victory over Aaron Ernest to improve to 12-4 on the year. Sophomore Ben Clymer (11-2) claimed Hofstra's last victory of the day, taking a 3-1 lead after two periods and holding on for a 3-2 win over Jeremie Cook to give the Pride a 20-3 advantage.

Lock Haven battled back, though, beginning with a 5-1 decision by Harry Turner over Pride senior Anthony Tortora (4-8) at 197 pounds. Turner had a takedown in the second and third periods and an escape in the second to close the gap to 20-6. Sophomore Dan Craig improved to 9-2 on the year with a 16-7 major decision over Hofstra red-shirt freshman Paul Snyder (4-8) at 285 pounds.

The 125 pound match was the most costly match of the contest for the Pride as sophomore Steve Bonanno, making his 2009-10 debut after a preseason leg injury, suffered an arm injury just 24 seconds into his match against Nick Hyatt and took an injury default. After Hyatt's default win, the Bald Eagles trailed by four at 20-16 heading into the match finale at 133 pounds. Lock Haven sophomore John Trumbetti jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one period and expanded it to 8-1 after two periods. But Hofstra freshman Jamie Franco held Trumbetti off and would not let him get the major victory in the 8-2 decision as the Pride pulled out the one-point match victory.

The Pride will be off for exams and the Christmas holiday before returning to action on December 29-30 at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, North Carolina. Hofstra's next home match is on Sunday, January 3, 2010 when the Pride host #3 Ohio State at 11 a.m.

Hofstra 20, Lock Haven 19
141- Luke Vaith (HU) wins by forfeit
149- Brock Parker (LHU) dec. Tyler Banks (HU) 4-2
157- Jonny Bonilla-Bowman maj. dec. Seth Creasy (LHU), 24-11
165- P.J. Gillespie (HU) maj. dec. Kevin Dufresne (LHU), 13-1
174- Ryan Patrovich (HU) dec. Aaron Ernest (LHU) 5-0
184- Ben Clymer (HU) dec. Jeremie Cook (LHU), 3-2
197- Harry Turner (LHU) dec. Anthony Tortora (HU), 5-1
285- Dan Craig (LHU) maj. dec. Paul Snyder (HU), 16-7
125- Nick Hyatt (LHU) wins by injury default Steve Bonanno (HU), 0:24
133- John Trumbetti (LHU) dec. Jamie Franco (HU), 8-2

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