What kickstarted a busy weekend for the Pride ended in an upsetting 27-13 loss to the University at Buffalo Bulls at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center.
Despite falling short as a team, Charles Small, Trey Rogers and Zachary Knighton-Ward achieved hard-fought victories. Following today’s dual, Hofstra drops to 2-8 overall in the regular season and remains 1-2 in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) competition.
Before Small’s exciting decision win at 184 pounds, the Bulls (9-5) won the first seven matches of the afternoon. This earlier in the day, Buffalo faced Long Island University and trounced the Sharks, 27-6.
Small defeated Pete Acciardi in three overtime periods to earn a 3-2 decision victory. Small nearly got a couple of takedowns on Acciardi and the two traded escape points throughout the match. Small escaped to his feet in the second overtime period and scored eight seconds of riding time in triple overtime despite Acciardi escaping to a neutral position after a scoreless sudden-victory overtime.
Hofstra was unable to score a single takedown until the 197-pound weight class where Trey Rogers came out victorious with a third period fall over Sam Mitchell. With the score clenched at one, Rogers earned two points on a takedown and had Mitchell flat on his back to earn the Pride six points. Rogers is now 4-0 this season in matches ending by pin.
Shortly after, at 285 pounds, Zachary Knighton-Ward won his 11th fight of the season by a dominant 16-2 major decision against Toby Cahill. The match was Knighton-Ward’s second major decision win of the season.
Hofstra head coach Dennis Papadatos noted the three heavier weight classes, 184, 197 and 285, remaining composed and dominating their opponents as a positive takeaway from today’s matchup. He also mentions that the team has been facing lots of adversity, especially in its starting lineup. “They need to get grittier because this is a gritty sport,” Papadatos said.
Aside from the three wins, three matches went into overtime in today’s dual, moving the Pride’s record in sudden victory overtime periods to 2-4 for the 2021-22 season. Hofstra’s record versus Buffalo is currently 5-6-1.
Following the match, Coach Papadatos shed light on the defeat and where he feels the team lacks. “Our lightweights are giving momentum to the other team,” he said. After suffering losses up until the 184-pound weight class. “I was not expecting that … I made a schedule based on being a really good dual meet team because everyone thought we would be,” Papadatos said. “So maybe some of it is bad luck; maybe some of that is my mistake.”
Wrapping up this weekend’s matchups, the Pride will take on EIWA rival Navy on Sunday, Jan. 16. The action begins at 4 p.m. from the David S. Mack Physical Education Center.
Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/Hofstra Athletics
