Hofstra also extended its conference dual match undefeated streak to 59 matches, and its conference dual match winning streak to 56.
In the first match of the day, Hofstra won eight of 10 matches including wins by fall by seniors Charles Griffin and Tom Daddino, as the Pride downed the Terriers of Boston University, 38-7. The sixth-ranked Griffin pinned Alex Cournoyer in 5:45 of the 141-pound match while Daddino pinned James Connors in 1:08 in the heavyweight match. The Pride jumped out to a 14-0 lead behind the "big little three" combination of Dave Tomasette, Lou Ruggirello and Charles Griffin. Tomasette received a forfeit win at 125, Ruggirello had a tech fall over Ryan Goddu and Griffin's pin.
Boston University closed the gap with a major victory by Mike Roberts over Jeff Rotella at 149, and a 7-5 sudden victory decision by Carlo Ferrandin over Anthony Tortora at 157. But the Pride swept the next five matches including a tech fall by Joe Rovelli at 197 and a major decision by Alton Lucas at 174.
In the second match of the day, the Pride also won eight of the 10 matches to down the host Patriots of George Mason, 28-9. Four Hofstra wrestlers posted major decisions as Dave Tomasette, Lou Ruggirello, Charles Griffin and Jonny Bonilla-Bowman tallied four-point victories. The Patriots were only able to muster victories at 149 and at heavyweight, where Harry Zander notched a win by fall. The Pride led 12-0 on major decisions by Tomasette, Ruggirello and Griffin before GMU's Aaron Keeton closed the gap with a 10-3 decision at 149. But Bonilla-Bowman's 18-8 major decision over James Kaden at 157 started the Pride's five match run that put Hofstra up 28-3 heading into the heavyweight match.
The final match of the day turned out, as expected, to be the Pride's closest conference contest since a 25-24 win at James Madison during the 2001-02 season. Like that match six years ago, the Pride went into the match missing two starters with Mitch Smith out at 149 with a groin injury suffered in the National Duals last week, and Ryan Patrovich, who gamely wrestled in only two matches this weekend, with an ankle sprain, out at 165.
The ODU match did not start off as usual for the Pride as #16 James Nicholson handed Hofstra's 10th-ranked Dave Tomasette his first loss of the CAA Duals with an 8-6 decision in sudden victory. But Ruggirello pinned ODU's Kyle Hutter in 1:15 at 133 pounds, and Griffin majored #13 Ryan Williams, 13-4, to take a 10-3 lead.
The Monarch's #17 Kaylen Baxter posted a victory by fall over Hofstra reserve Jeff Rotella in 2:10 to close the deficit to 10-9. But the Pride continued to use bonus point victories beginning with Bonilla-Bowman, who notched a 20-7 win over Dan Rivera at 157. Anthony Tortora battled ODU's Chris Brown at 165 before dropping a 6-4 decision but Hofstra's Alton Lucas recorded an 18-5 major decision over Nick Pullano to boost the lead to 18-12. Jesse Strawn then majored Hofstra freshman Justin Danz, 12-0, at 184 pounds to close to 18-16.
Hofstra senior Joe Rovelli's 8-0 major decision over David Mendoza at 197 gave the Pride a 22-16 lead which required a ODU victory by fall in the heavyweight match to tie the match. In that contest, Hofstra's Tom Daddino, giving up 50 pounds to his opponent, Andrew Tortusek, battled him to a 2-2 tie after three periods. After a scoreless sudden victory period, Totusek was able to post an escape in the tie-breaker for a 3-2 win.
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