Hempstead, NY - Tyler Banks, Jonny Bonilla-Bowman and P.J. Gillespie posted major decision victories
and the Pride received a final match forfeit win as Hofstra defeated Drexel,
21-17, in a CAA match at the Hofstra Physical Fitness Center Saturday
afternoon.
The Dragons of Drexel
jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two matches as junior Michael Gomez (3-3)
defeated Pride freshman Jamie Franco (5-14), 2-1, on a third period takedown at
125 pounds, and 15th-ranked senior Steve Mytych (30-6) posted a 10-2 major
decision over freshman Luke Vaith (15-17) at 133 pounds. Hofstra got on the
board at 141 pounds when red-shirt freshman Tyler Banks (10-17) rolled to a
13-0 major decision over Dragon freshman Josh Yurasits (2-8). Drexel boosted
the lead to 10-4 at 149 when senior Brett McCurdy (10-12) downed Pride junior
Jeff Rotella (3-19).
But the Pride rallied with major decisions in the next two matches to take a
12-10 lead in the contest. Senior Jonny Bonilla-Bowman (16-4), ranked 19th in
the country, jumped out to a 9-5 lead after one period and rolled to a 21-11
major decision over Joe Booth (19-6) at 157 pounds. It was Bonilla-Bowman's
fourth straight win and the ninth in his last 10 matches. Pride sophomore P.J. Gillespie (28-12) gave Hofstra a 12-10 advantage with a 14-6 major win over
sophomore Alex Rinaldi (8-20) at 165 pounds.
Drexel regained the lead at 174 pounds as junior Dave Woodall edged Pride
senior Jonathan Rothman (2-17), 6-5 at 174 pounds, on the riding time point after
Rothman pulled off a late escape to tie the match. But Hofstra sophomore Ben Clymer (23-6) gave the Pride the lead right back, recording a second period
escape for a 1-0 victory over junior Justin Weiller (12-15). Clymer has won 12
of his last 14 matches.
At 197 pounds, Drexel sophomore Shawn Fausey (3-6) recorded a 10-0 major
decision over Pride red-shirt freshman Pat Murphy (1-5), who was filling in
for senior starter Anthony Tortora, who was injured at Rider last Wednesday,
giving the Dragons a 17-15 advantage heading into the match finale. A battle
between Drexel junior Kyle Frey (27-8), ranked second in the CAA, and Hofstra
red-shirt freshman Paul Snyder (10-14), ranked fourth in the CAA, was expected
at 285 pounds, But Frey, who suffered a hand injury in a recent match,
forfeited the match giving Hofstra the 21-17 victory.
The Pride, who snapped a seven-match losing streak, ended their dual match
schedule with a 6-12-2 mark and a 4-3 mark in the CAA. Drexel ended its regular
season with a 9-12-0 mark and a 3-4 record in the CAA. Both teams will now
prepare for the 2010 CAA Championships at Rider University in Lawrenceville,
New Jersey on March 5-6.
Hofstra 21, Drexel 17
125- Mike Gomez (DU)
dec. Jamie Franco (HU), 2-1
133- Steve Mytych (DU)
maj. dec. Luke Vaith (HU), 10-2
141- Tyler Banks (HU)
maj. dec. Josh Yurasits (DU), 13-0
149- Brett McCurdy
(DU) dec. Jeff Rotella (HU), 10-3
157- Jonny Bonilla-Bowman (HU) maj. dec. Joe Booth (DU), 21-11
165- P.J. Gillespie
(HU) maj. dec. Alex Rinaldi (DU), 14-6
174- Dave Woodall (DU)
dec. Jonathan Rothman (HU), 6-5
184- Ben Clymer (HU)
dec. Justin Weiller (DU), 1-0
197- Shawn Fausey (DU)
maj. dec. Pat Murphy (HU), 10-0
285- Paul Snyder (HU)
win by forfeit
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