With the match starting at 197 pounds, the Big Red's Taylor Moore faced No. 8 Joe Rovelli. Rovelli racked up the points in the second and third periods to win a 15-0 technical fall, giving Hofstra an early 5-0 lead over the Big Red.
No. 12 ranked Zach Hammond faced Hofstra's Tom Daddino in the heavyweight bout. The two wrestled to a tie in the first period with three points apiece. Hammond chose to start the second period from the down position but was unable to escape Daddino's clutches during the two minute period. Daddino took a 4-3 lead in the third escaping Hammond after 57 seconds. With 16 seconds left in the match, Hammond caught Daddino quickly pinning the Pride wrestler to earn six team points for the Big Red.
Senior Mike Rodriguez hit the mat next for the Big Red at 125 pounds, facing No. 13 Dave Tomasette. The two wrestled to a close first period, but the Pride wrestler pulled away in the second and third to win an 11-5 decision giving Hofstra back its team lead.
At 133 pounds, No. 2 Mike Grey took on No. 6 Lou Ruggirello. Grey took a two point lead with a takedown with 45 seconds left in the first period, and Ruggirello was unable to escape Grey's clutches. Grey started the second period from the down position and grabbed two point reversal with 20 seconds left in the period. Ruggirello earned his only point of the match with an escape in the third giving Grey a 4-1 win. With the three point victory, Cornell regained a 9-8 advantage.
The Big Red had to forfeit its match at 141 pounds over No. 5 Charles Griffen. The Pride earned six points with the forfeit to take a 14-9 lead into the intermission.
At 149 pounds, freshman DJ Meagher faced Hofstra's Jeff Rotella. Meagher took down Rotella 10 seconds into the period, but nearly a minute later Rotella tied up the match with a reversal. At 1:19, Meagher regained the advantage with a reversal of his own. The Big Red wrestler nearly maneuvered Rotella on to his back, but with time running out in the period, earned three points for a nearfall. Meagher had choice in the second period and remained in the top position looking to pin Rotella. Meagher continued to dominate the match and earned the win by fall in 4:27.
Returning All-American Jordan Leen wrestled against Johnny Bonilla-Bowman at 157 pounds. Leen grabbed the lead within 20 seconds and never looked back winning a 12-4 major decision over the Pride wrestler. Leen's four points increased the Big Red's lead to19-14.
Fourth ranked Mack Lewnes faced Ryan Patrovich at 165 pounds. The two grapplers were scoreless in the first period until Lewnes earned two points with a takedown with 10 seconds left on the clock. Lewnes lengthened his lead to three escaping Patrovich within 10 seconds in the second period. The Pride wrestler scored his only point of the match with an escape in the third, and Lewnes walked away with a 3-1 win.
At 174 pounds, No. 10 ranked junior Steve Anceravage took on No. 5 Alton Lucas. Lucas held a 2-1 advantage after the first period with Lucas making a takedown and Anceravage earning an escape. Anceravage tied up the match at two points apiece in the second with an escape from his initial down position. Lucas started the third down on the mat and regained his lead with an escape at 1:49. Both wrestlers were unable to score and with less than six seconds left in the match, the two were at a stalemate and headed to center mat at the neutral position. With seconds ticking away Lucas looked to be the winner, but with less than a second left in the match, Anceravage stunned the Pride wrestler with a takedown to win, 4-3. Cornell increased its lead to 25-14 securing its team victory.
All-American Josh Arnone returned to the mat at 184 pounds for the first time this season after taking off the fall semester due to injury. The Big Red wrestler earned two points with a takedown at 1:05 of the first period, and racked up riding time against the Pride's Justin Danz. Arnone increased his lead to five in the second period with an escape and a takedown. Danz escaped Arnone in the third period at 1:19, but Arnone regained control with a takedown less than 20 seconds later. With riding time secured, and a 7-1 lead, Arnone let Danz up looking to win a major decision. Danz evaded Arnone's clutches, but the Big Red wrestler won an 8-2 decision in his first match of the season.
The Big Red will return to action next weekend as it opens it Ivy season, playing host to Columbia. The Big Red will take on the Lions on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Friedman Wrestling Center. Cornell will also wrestle against Wagner at 3 p.m.
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