Cambridge, MA — The 2017 Men’s National Team Championships began this morning.
A Division (Potter Cup): Rochester, the Potter Cup runners-up last season, and St. Lawrence, the Potter Cup runners-up in 2015, met for the second time this season. Two weeks ago at the Liberty League Championships in Rochester, St. Lawrence came from behind to defeat the Yellowjackets, 5-4, capturing their 4th consecutive league crown. In today’s match, St. Lawrence clinched early to advance to the semifinals.
Hard to believe that Columbia and Drexel only have 13 combined years as varsity squash programs. These two squads are relative newcomers to the top division of men’s college squash. Today marked Columbia’s third Potter Cup appearance, while Drexel made its debut in the top division. Columbia, who defeated Drexel in the regular season, defeated the Dragons again this afternoon.
B Division (Hoehn Cup): Dartmouth, the top seed in the Hoehn Cup, faced Franklin & Marshall in the opening round. Although the Hoehn Cup is named for former Dartmouth coach Edward Hoehn, the Big Green have only captured the division twice (1998 and 2001). With today’s 8-1 victory over the Diplomats, Dartmouth appears to be on a quest to bring the Hoehn Cup back to Hanover.
The CSA’s northernmost team, Western Ontario, opened the tournament against George Washington. The two schools have not met since January 2016, where the Colonials shutout Western Ontario. Last season, the Mustangs captured the Conroy Cup (D Division). Making incredible strides this season, Western Ontario is seeded in the middle of the Hoehn Cup. George Washington clinched the victory before the number 1 match had been played.
C Division (Summers Cup): The tournament began with four Summers Cup matches at 10 AM this morning. Top-seed Middlebury faced NESCAC rival Amherst. Middlebury has captured 4 of the last 8 Summers Cups. With today’s 9-0 victory over Amherst, the Panthers appear poised to make it 5 of last 9 Summers Cups.
MIT is thrilled to be competing for the Summers Cup, which is named for Jack Summers, the founder of the Engineers’ squash program. MIT faced Brown in the opening round, a team they haven’t defeated since the 1997-1998 season. With Brown’s 8-1 victory today, the Bears kept that streak intact, and the Engineers remain one short of their single-season team victory record.
Dickinson made their inaugural Summers Cup and faced Virginia, the highest ranked club team in the nation today. The Cavaliers, who defeated Dickinson 9-0 early in the regular season, won once again, this time by an 8-1 margin. In another regular-season sequel, Williams faced Colby. Williams, last season’s runners-up in the Summers Cup, advanced with a 8-1 victory over the Mules. The Ephs will face Virginia in one of tomorrow’s Summers Cup semifinals, and Middlebury and Brown will play in the other.
D Division (Conroy Cup): At MIT, Hobart and Conn College met in a rematch of a contest at the last month’s Pioneer Valley Invitational. Today, the Statesmen earned the victory over Conn College, 8-1. Hamilton and Tufts traded regular season matches this season. Hamilton defeated Tufts in the fall semester, while Tufts defeated the Continentals in the NESCAC Championships. In the rubber match today, Tufts defeated Hamilton, 5-4.
E Division: (Chaffee Cup): Also at MIT, Bard faced top-seed Bucknell. The Raptors lost to Bucknell, 2-7. In late January, Denison defeated Georgetown and in today’s opening match of Chaffee Cup, the Hoyas turned the tables on the Big Red, pulling off the upset with a 5-4 win.
F Division (Serues Cup): The first Serues Cup matches of the day are scheduled to begin at 7 pm.
G Division (Hawthorn Cup): The first Hawthorn Cup matches of the day were scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm.
H Division: The first H Division matches are scheduled to begin on Saturday at 9:00 am.
