Feb. 19, 2010
New Haven, Conn. -
The Fordham Univesity squash team opened play at the 2010 Men's College Squash Association National Team Championships being held at Yale University by falling to Lafayette, 5-4, in the Hawthorn Division.
James Lechleitner, Ken Fukumoto, Andrew Grosner and Nick Reed picked up wins for the Rams, in positions four through seven, respectively. Lechleitner needed five games to upend Frank Dalicandro at the fourth spot, winning the first, 11-4, before falling 11-9 in the second. Lechleitner came back to win the third game, 11-5, but Dalicandro forced a fifth game with an 11-8 win in game four. Lechleitner took the point by winning the fifth game, 11-9.
Fukumoto was victorious at the fifth position, defeating Aung Lin in three games by scores of 11-5, 11-4 and 11-4 while Grosner endured a marathon match at the sixth position, eventually defeating Alexandra Pierce, 3-2. Grosner won the first two games by scores of 11-5 and 11-8 before Pierce came back to win the next two by identical 11-5 scores. Grosner then outlatsed Pierce in the fifth game, 16-14.
Reed took the seventh position from Robert Elliott, 3-1, winning the first two games 11-4 and 11-3 before dropping the third, 11-8. But Reed took the fourth game, 11-9, for the team point.
Eli Plangger almost picked up another point for the Rams, falling to Mark Bottini at the third position, 3-2. Plangger dropped the first game, 11-7, before taking game two, 11-7. After Bottini won game three, 11-6, Plangger forced a fifth and deciding game with an 11-7 win in game four. But Bottini managed to defeat Plangger in game five by a score of 11-9.
The Rams will continue play at the 2010 Men's College Squash Association National Team Championships by facing the College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
2010 Men's College Squash Association National Team Championships
February 19, 2010
Lafayette 5, Fordham 4
1. Thomas Culp (L) def. Colin Corbett (F), 11-2, 11-5, 11-8
2. Carter Rufe (L) def. Andriy Kulak (F), 11-4, 11-7, 11-8
3. Mark Bottini (L) def. Eli Plangger (F), 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9
4. James Lechleitner (F) def. Frank Dalicandro (L), 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9
5. Ken Fukumoto (F) def. Aung Lin (L), 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
6. Andrew Grosner (F) def. Alexandra Pierce (L), 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 5-11, 16-14
7. Nick Reed (F) def. Robert Elliott (L), 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9
8. Amar Gujral (L) def. Chris Souther (F), 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8
9. Holden Ranz (L) def. Andrew Craig (F), 13-11, 11-7, 11-3
