Vestal, NY – Pride freshman Vinny Vespa recorded his first collegiate tech fall but the Bearcats of Binghamton tallied five consecutive victories to post a 21-11 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) victory over Hofstra at West Gymnasium Friday night.

The Bearcats, who opened their dual match schedule, are 1-0 in the EIWA and on the season while Hofstra slipped to 0-2 in the EIWA and 1-2 overall.

Binghamton took the early 3-0 lead when Steve Bulzomi topped Pride freshman Jacob Martin (5-10), 10-6 at 125 pounds. But Vespa gave Hofstra a 5-3 advantage in the match with a 15-0 tech fall in the third period of Carlos Aucancela at 133. Vespa evened his record at 6-6 this season.

Hofstra red-shirt freshman Connor Burkert then boosted the Pride lead to 8-3 with a 7-5 victory over Dylan Caruana at 141, holding off a late charge by the Bearcat grappler. Burkert is 5-7 on the year.

But that would be Hofstra's last win until 197 pounds as Binghamton would rattle off five consecutive wins by decision to take an 18-8 lead. At 149, Parker Kropman topped sophomore Ryan Burkert, 11-5 at 149 and Tristan Rifanburg opened up a 6-0 lead on Jake Kaminsky after one period on the way to a 7-3 win at 157 for a 9-8 lead. Vincent DePrez then defeated junior Bobby Fehr, 8-2 at 165 and Anthony DePrez blanked freshman Sage Heller, 7-0 at 174. Binghamton's 13th-ranked Steve Schneider defeated Michael Oxley, 10-3 at 184 pounds for an 18-8 advantage.

Hofstra red-shirt sophomore Nezar Haddad ended the run, pulling out a 3-2 decision in the third period over Mark Tracy at 197. Haddad is 5-5 on the season. Binghamton's Connor Calkins recorded a 5-3 victory over Pride sophomore Omar Haddad (2-8) at 285

The Pride will now break for final exams and the holidays before returning to action on Thursday, December 29 at the Lock Haven Classic in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
 
Binghamton (1-0, 1-0) 21, Hofstra (0-2, 1-2) 11
125 – Steve Bulzomi (BU) dec. Jacob Martin (HU), 10-6
133 – Vinny Vespa (HU) tech fall Carlos Aucancela (BU), 15-0
141 – Connor Burkert (HU) dec, Dylan Caruana (BU), 7-5
149 – Parker Kropman (BU) dec. Ryan Burkert (HU), 11-5
157 – Tristan Rifanburg (BU) dec. Jake Kaminsky (HU), 7-3
165 – Vincent DePrez (BU) dec. Bobby Fehr (HU), 8-2
174 – Anthony DePrez (BU) dec. Sage Heller (HU), 7-0
184 - #13 Steve Schneider (BU) dec. Michael Oxley (HU), 10-3
197 – Nezar Haddad (HU) dec. Mark Tracy (BU), 3-2
285-  Connor Calkins (BU) dec. Omar Haddad (HU), 5-3