Box Score vs. Brandeis | Box Score vs. Bard

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 31, 2015) – The Vassar College men's squash team battled Bard College for the team title of the Hudson Valley Team Invitational Saturday afternoon, but the visiting Raptors pulled out a tight 5-4 win, as the Brewers had to settle for the runner-up position for the second straight season.

Both Bard College and Vassar breezed by Brandeis University 9-0 in the early match for both teams, setting up an exciting finish to the day. Vassar College honored its three seniors prior to the night match, as captains Ryan Kurtzman (Chicago, IL/Latin School of Chicago) and David Garfinkel (Larchmont, NY/Mamaroneck) along with Noah Kulick (Cambridge, MA/Beaver Country Day) each played their final match in Kenyon Hall Saturday.

After the first three matches of the contest, the Brewers trailed 2-1 as only junior Ben Kurchin (Rochester, NY/Harley School) was able to pick up his No. 6 match with a score of 7-11, 11-5, 11-2 and 11-6. The second trio of matches saw Vassar College even the contest at three wins apiece, as Samuel Hammer (Wethersfield, CT/KIngswood Oxnard) earned an 11-6, 11-7 and 11-5 win and Garfinkel chalked up an 11-3, 12-10 and 11-8 straight set victory.

With three matches to go in the championships match, Vassar College needed to win two of the three. Sophomore Vincent Mencotti (Birmingham, MI/Brother Rice) shook off a loss in the first set to rally for a 7-11, 11-1, 11-4 and 11-4 win to give the Brewers a 4-3 lead. Unfortunately though for Vassar, Bard was able to take both the No. 4 and No. 7 matches in highly contested contests to seal the win.

The deciding match at No. 4 featuring Juan Fernandez and Aya Maeda was one of the best matches of the day, as Fernandez opened with an 11-7 victory. Maeda clinched the final three games, with all three coming by just two points including a 13-11 win in set two and a 12-10 victory in the final set.

Against Brandeis, Vassar College won all seven matches played, earning two points at the end of the lineup due to default. Mencotti earned his first of two wins in straight sets at No. 1, and Tim Veit (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) earned a four-set victory with scores of 11-2, 9-11, 11-5 and 11-2. Kurtzman had no problems in taking care of business at No. 3, and Kulick earned an 11-0, 11-1, 11-0 whitewashing at No. 7.

Luckily, this isn't the last time these two teams will meet this season, as Vassar College will head to Annandale-on-Hudson, NY next Sunday, February 8 at 1 p.m. for a rematch of today's tilt.