Annapolis, MD –Freshman Dylan Ryder was the Pride's only two-match winner as Hofstra dropped their season-opening Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association matches at American and Navy Sunday. The Pride dropped a 22-12 decision to the Eagles of American at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. before moving north and falling to the Midshipmen of Navy, 30-12 at Alumni Hall in Annapolis Sunday evening.

Ryder improved to 13-9 overall and 5-2 in dual matches with his two wins by decision. Senior Nezar Haddad, junior Omar Haddad, sophomores Garrett Lambert and Ricky Stamm and freshman Holden Heller each posted one victory for the Pride on the day.

In the first match at American, the Eagles took a 14-3 lead by winning four of the first five matches. Stamm's 3-0 win over Elijah Murphy at 165 were the Pride's only points in the first half of the contest. Hofstra closed the gap to 14-12 with consecutive wins by Nezar and Omar Haddad at 197 and 285, respectively, and Ryder's come-from-behind win at 125. But the Eagles closed out the Pride and the match with major decision wins at 133 and 141 for the 22-12 final result.

In the evening match at Navy, the Midshipmen won six of the first seven matches to build an insurmountable 24-3 lead with Holden Heller the only Pride winner at 149. After Ryder posted a 6-0 shutout win at 125 and a Navy win by fall at 133, Garrett Lambert won the hard way-by his own injury-after Navy's Nicholas Gill was whistled for an illegal hold (body slam) resulting in the six-point win for Lambert and the 30-12 final score.

Hofstra will wrap up their eight-match road swing with four matches in South Carolina next weekend. The Pride will face Northern Illinois and The Citadel at The Citadel next Saturday, January 19 before facing Davidson and Gardner Webb at Lexington High School in Lexington, South Carolina on Sunday, January 20.
 
 
MATCH 1 at American, Washington, D.C.
American (2-2, 2-1 EIWA) 22, Hofstra (1-5, 0-1 EIWA)
149 | Michael Sprague (AU) major dec. Holden Heller, 10-1
157 | Kizhan Clarke (AU) dec. Ryan Burkert, 5-2    
165 | Ricky Stamm (HOF) dec. Elijah Murphy, 3-0
174 | Conner Allshouse (AU) major dec. Corey Langner, 21-8
184 | Tanner Harvey (AU) dec. Trey Rogers, 8-2
197 | Nezar Haddad (HOF) dec. Prince Hyeamang, 5-3
285 | Omar Haddad (HOF) dec. Niko Camacho, 3-1 (SV-1)
125 | Dylan Ryder (HOF) dec. Gage Curry, 12-8
133 | #16 Josh Terao (AU) major dec. Jacob Martin, 17-5
141 | Jack Mutchnik (AU) major dec. Garrett Lambert, 11-1

MATCH 2 at Navy, Annapolis, MD
Navy (3-1, 2-0 EIWA) 30, Hofstra (1-6, 0-2 EIWA) 12
149 | Holden Heller dec Wyatt Long (NAVY), 10-6
157 | Quentin Hovis (NAVY) dec over Ryan Burkert, 8-2
165 | Tanner Skidgel (NAVY) dec over Ricky Stamm, 3-2
174 | #19 Spencer Carey (NAVY) fall over Corey Langner, 4:55
184 | Anthony Cable (NAVY) dec over Trey Rogers, 3-2
197 | Joshua Roetman (NAVY) fall over Nezar Haddad, 3:48
285 | Thomas Ott (NAVY) dec over Omar Haddad, 3-2
125 | Dylan Ryder dec over Jacob Allen (NAVY), 6-0
133 | Casey Cobb (NAVY) fall over Jacob Martin, 3:00
141 | Garrett Lambert injury default over #17 Nicholas Gil (NAVY)