The Pride, 5-6-2 on the season, defeated Sacred Heart (34-13). George Mason (29-12) and Boston University (23-15) and dropped a 29-10 decision to Old Dominion in Fairfax, Virginia last Saturday. Hofstra received outstanding performances from 17th-ranked senior Jonny Bonilla-Bowman (10-3 at 157 pounds), sophomore Ben Clymer (18-4 at 184 pounds) and red-shirt freshman Paul Snyder (9-10 at 285 pounds) with each posting a 4-0 mark. Sophomore P.J. Gillespie, who leads the team with a 24-9 record at 165 pounds, and freshman Luke Vaith (13-12 at 141) each posted three wins in the four-match CAA Duals.

But the problem that has haunted the Pride all season-injuries-reared its ugly head again this week as Snyder, who had the best day of his young career last Saturday, went down with a knee injury in practice this week. He is expected to miss several weeks with the hope that he could be back for the final regular season matches and the CAA Championships in March.

The Pride's latest injury comes at the same time as the return of freshman Jamie Franco (4-8), who returns from an injury of his own, to fill the 125-pound spot that has been forfeited since December. With only one heavyweight (Snyder) on the roster, the Pride will now be forfeiting the other end of the weight classes.

Hofstra has been plagued by injuries all season long as three other starters have gone down with early, season-ending injuries. Sophomore Steve Bonanno, an NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds last season, was sidelined with a knee injury during the preseason, returned on December 13 and immediately suffered a season-ending elbow injury in his first match back. Sophomore Justin Accordino (149 pounds), another NCAA qualifier last year, was able to make it out of the gate this season but didn't last long before suffering a season-ending knee injury on November 21. Junior Ryan Patrovich (16-7 at 174 pounds), who was having the best season of his career with fifth-place finishes at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle, went down with a season-ending knee injury in the Ohio State match on January 3. These three injuries, now four with Snyder, plus the red-shirt year taken by three-time CAA champion and NCAA qualifier Lou Ruggirello have kept Pride coach Tom Shifflet and his staff scrambling to fill the holes in the line-up.

Despite the roster issues, the Pride is 3-1-1 in their last five dual matches but will be faced with a stern challenge from the Tigers of Missouri (3-4). The Tigers have seven wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight classes led by third-ranked senior Max Askren (10-1) at 184 pounds. Senior Nick Marable (25-2) is ranked sixth at 165 pounds while eighth-ranked senior Mark Ellis (15-6) will probably get the night off at 285. Sophomore Dorian Henderson (18-8) is ranked 10th at 174 pounds, freshmen Brad Wisdom (11-1) and Brent Haynes (20-8) are ranked 17th at 125 and 197 pounds, respectively, and junior Todd Shavrien (18-7) is ranked 19th at 141 pounds.

Tickets for Friday night's match are available online at www.GoHofstra.com or at the Hofstra Box Office in the Mack Sports Complex.