Cambridge, MA - Lou Ruggirello and Matt Loew posted wins by fall to lead seven Pride wrestlers with bonus-point victories as Hofstra cruised by Harvard, 39-8 at the Malkin Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. The Pride won their second straight and seventh dual match in their last eight outings to improve to 11-4-1 on the season. The Crimson fall to 2-13 on the year.

Sophomore Steve Bonanno , ranked 20^th in the nation by InterMat, started off the Pride with a major decision victory over Harvard sophomore Steven Keith, 12-3, at 125 pounds. It was Bonanno's sixth win in his last seven matches as he improves to 19-10 on the year. Senior Lou Ruggirello (23-3), ranked fourth this week at 133 pounds, won his ninth consecutive match and posted his 10^th pin of the season, stopping sophomore Shay Warren in 1:36. Junior Vince Varela improved to 17-10 on the year with a 19-3 tech fall win over freshman Joe Marino at 141. It was Varela's first tech fall of the season and boosted the Hofstra lead to 15-0.

After Zach Clement (12-11) posted a win by forfeit at 149 pounds to boost the Pride lead to 21-0, Harvard got on the board behind sixth-ranked sophomore Walt Peppelman, who notched an 18-0 first period tech fall over junior Matt Spataro (7-14), who was wrestling up a class over his usual 149 pound division.

But the Pride came right back with four straight victories to close the match. Junior P.J. Gillespie improved to 21-6 with a 15-0 tech fall win over sophomore Nick Brazeau at 165 pounds. It was Gillespie's first tech fall of the year and boosted the Pride lead to 26-5. Senior Ryan Patrovich , ranked 18 ^th at 174 pounds, followed with a 16-3 major decision over senior Michael Sadler. Patrovich, who has won four of his five matches since returning from a knee injury, is now 13-4 on the season. Junior Ben Clymer gave the Pride a 33-5 advantage with a 6-0 decision over freshman Cameron Croy at 184 pounds.

Freshman Matt Loew posted the first win by fall of his college career with a pin of junior Bryan Panzano in 2:07 at 197 pounds. Loew improves to 10-21 on the year and gave Hofstra a 39-5 lead. In the match finale, senior Andrew Knapp posted a takedown with 16 seconds remaining in the first sudden victory period to give him a 3-1 win over Pride sophomore Paul Snyder (19-14).

The Pride return to action on Wednesday, February 16 when the Broncs of Rider come to the Mack Sports Complex for a 7 p.m. CAA-match. Hofstra will honor its three graduating seniors in pre-match ceremonies.

Hofstra 39, Harvard 8

125- #20 Steve Bonanno (HOF) MAJ Steven Keith (HAR), 12-3  (4-0)

133- #4 Lou Ruggirello (HOF) WBF Shay Warren (HAR), 1:36 (10-0)

141- Vince Varela (HOF) TF Joe Marino (HAR), 19-3 (15-0)

149- Zach Clemente (HOF) win by forfeit (21-0)

157- #6 Walt Peppelman (HAR) TF Matt Spataro (HOF), 18-0 (21-5)

165-#16 P.J. Gillespie (HOF) TF Nick Brazeau (HAR), 15-0 (26-5)

174-#18 Ryan Patrovich (HOF) MAJ Michael Sadler (HAR), 16-3 (30-5)

184- Ben Clymer (HOF) DEC Cameron Croy (HAR), 6-0 (33-5)

197- Matt Loew (HOF) WBF Bryan Panzano (HAR), 2:07 (39-5)

285- Andrew Knapp (HAR) DEC Paul Snyder (HOF), 3-1 in SV (39-8)

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