Things started well for the Mountain Hawks as freshman Mitch Berger began the dual with his first home victory of his career. Berger secured takedowns in all three periods in an 8-3 decision over Ilyass Elmsaouri at 125. Ciasulli followed with his team-leading fourth fall of the season, as he reversed Tommy Lorenzo to open the second period, and later worked him over from the top position before securing the fall in 3:55.
Rider's first victory came at 141 as Fred Rodgers spoiled senior Jeff Santo's final home dual with an 8-4 win by decision.
At 149, Chinn broke a 1-1 tie with a late third period takedown, defeating Fisch who earned All-America honors at 141 a year ago. Chinn's victory began a four match Lehigh run, which put the Brown and White up 24-3 after seven bouts.
Dave Nakasone went out a winner in his Grace Hall finale, earning a 7-3 decision over Rob Morrison at 157. Sophomore Mike Galante followed by avenging a loss to Jason Lapham last month at the Virginia Duals. Galante converted a pair of spin-behind takedowns in the second and third periods for the 6-1 victory. Caruso closed out the run with a third-period pin of Michael Darling at 174. Lehigh's 20th-ranked freshman put own a takedown clinic to build a 19-6 lead before taking Darling down to his back and earning the fall in 6:06.
The Broncs (6-11) captured the final three weight classes, with nationally ranked Doug Umbehauer (184) and T.J. Morrison (197) earning bonus wins, and Ed Bordas avenging a 3-2 loss to Lehigh sophomore Justin Allen with a win by the same score.
"Overall the guys wrestled well," said Lehigh head coach Greg Strobel. "It wasn't a peak performance for us but we won in workmanlike fashion. It was a huge win for Chinn beating a ranked guy, and I was pleased to see Galante get back on track with a good win as well."
The victory was Lehigh's second this season over Rider. The Mountain Hawks downed the Broncs 21-11 at the Virginia Duals last month. Thursday's dual marked the tenth time in 99 years of Lehigh wrestling that the Brown and White wrestled a team twice in the same season, and for the seventh time in those ten occasions, the team who won the first meeting won the second as well.
The Mountain Hawks will return to the mat on Sunday when they put their 6-0 EIWA record on the line when they travel to Army. The match gets underway at 4 p.m. from Christl Arena at West Point, and will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as online at Lehighsports.com with streaming audio powered by Yahoo! Sports.
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