Bethlehem, PA –
Jamel Hudson and
Cody Ruggirello staked the Pride to a 9-0 lead but the Mountain Hawks posted victories in the next eight matches as 15th-ranked Lehigh defeated Hofstra, 27-9 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association opener for both teams at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall Thursday night.
Hofstra, which defeated Lock Haven in their season opener last Sunday, is now 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in the EIWA while Lehigh, which opened their 2014-15 campaign Thursday, is 1-0 overall and in conference play.
Hudson jumped out to a 6-3 after one period and cruised to a strong 15-8 victory over Lehigh's Randy Cruz at 141 to open the contest. Hudson improved to 2-0 on the season. Graduate-student
Cody Ruggirello also improved to 2-0 on the season and boosted the Pride lead to 9-0 with a pin of Drew Longo at the 2:42 mark of the first period at 149.
But the Mountain Hawks would rally and post three close victories to tie the match at 9-9 at the intermission. Dylan Milonas edged Hofstra sophomore
Jahlani Callender (1-1), 5-4 on the riding time point at 157. Santiago Martinez posted a 5-2 win over Pride senior
Nick Terdick (0-2) at 165 before Marshall Peppelman tied the match for Lehigh with a 3-2 decision, on riding time, over Hofstra sophomore
Frank Affronti (0-2) at 174.
The Mountain Hawks opened the second half of the match with bonus-point wins as third-ranked Nathaniel Brown recorded a 17-2 tech fall win over Pride junior
Jermaine John (0-2) at 184 and John Bolich majored Hofstra freshman
Michael Oxley (0-2), 12-1 at 197 to open up an 18-9 lead.
Hofstra sophomore
Michael Hughes (1-1) lost a heart-breaking 3-1 decision to Doug Vollaro at 285 on a takedown 11 seconds into sudden victory, and Pride freshman
Travis Passaro (1-1) dropped a 3-1 decision to Scott Parker at 125. Hofstra sophomore
Maverick Passaro (0-2) closed out the match with a 6-3 loss to Lehigh's second-ranked Mason Beckman at 133.
Hofstra returns to action on Sunday, November 16 when they travel to New Brunswick, New Jersey to face the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers at 6 p.m.
#15 Lehigh 27, Hofstra 9141-
Jamel Hudson (H) dec. Randy Cruz (L), 15-8
149-
Cody Ruggirello (H) WBF Drew Longo (L), 2:42
157- Dylan Milonas (L) dec.
Jahlani Callender (H), 5-4
165- Santiago Martinez (L) dec.
Nick Terdick (H), 5-2
174- Marshall Peppelman (L) dec.
Frank Affronti (H), 3-2
184- #3 Nathaniel Brown (L) tech fall
Jermaine John (H), 17-2 (4:30)
197- John Bolich (L) maj. dec.
Michael Oxley (H), 12-1
285- Doug Vollaro (L) dec.
Michael Hughes (H), 3-1
125- Scott Parker (L) dec.
Travis Passaro (H), 3-1
133- #2 Mason Beckman (L) dec.
Maverick Passaro (H), 6-3
