Courtesy of UR Athletics
This weekend, the UR men’s squash team competed in the CSA nationals held in New Haven, Conn. The team started off with a tough loss to Harvard University but then went on to win two in a row against Franklin and Marshall College and St. Lawrence University.
The Yellowjackets’ first match of the weekend was the quarterfinals round held Friday, Feb. 22. The team fought hard but ultimately was defeated in a 3-6 battle against Harvard.
The three-point scorers of the match included freshmen Neil Cordell and Faraz Khan, and junior Karm Kumar. However, this was not enough, and the Yellowjackets fell short, earning them a spot in the consulation round against Franklin and Marshall College, which ranked seventh.
The match was held on Saturday, Feb. 23 and the Yellowjackets showed their spirit was not dampened as they were trampled in a 6-3 defeat.
Standout performances came from Kumar and senior Adam Perkiomaki, both of whom swept their opponents in a mere three games. Other victories came from Cordell, Khan, and senior Andres Duany, each with strong performances, winning in four total games. The final point was earned by senior Oscar Lopez, who came from behind to earn the overall win in five matches, the closest competition of the night.
The Yellowjackets’ weekend was not over after this victory; their victory over F&M had earned them a spot in the match for fifth place in the CSA National Championships held at Yale University’s Brady Squash Center. This game took place on Sunday, Feb. 25. Here, the Yellowjackets fought against fellow Liberty League opponents, St. Lawrence, and came out victorious in a nail-biting 5-4 win, their second of the season over Saint Lawrence University, making the Yellowjackets overall record a solid 6-11.
The competition started off with a loss for UR, however the Yellowjackets stood strong and were able to bring home spots 2-6. Once again, the freshmen duo of Khan and Cordell both racked in wins. Khan with an impressively strong showing in position three, swept his opponent Sebastian Riedelsheimer in a three-match victory.
Other outstanding performers of the night included Kumar, who also had a 3-0 victory over opponent Will Campo, besting him 11-4, 13-11, and 11-5, as well as Perkiomaki who outplayed opponent Kyle Oglivy in a 3-0 match, taking down Oglivy 11-5, 11-6, and 11-6.
These five-point scorers led the Yellowjackets to victory, a win that earned UR a the fifth place team in the nation.
Many of the Yellowjackets will be continuing onto the CSA Individual Championships this weekend, held in Hartford, Conn.
Kozen is a member of the class of 2015.
