Sunday, December 5
New York, N.Y.
Noon
Columbia
4
vs
5
Cornell
Columbia Unable to Overcome Cornell in Ivy Opener
12/5/2021 5:37:00โฏPM | Men's Squash
Lions narrowly miss victory, falling 4-5 in Ivy League opener.
NEW YORK -- Sophomoreย Rutvik Rau secured a thrilling five-game victory overย Nicholas Goth Erringtonย as the No. 6 Columbia men's squash team (4-1)ย fell to No. 9 Cornell 4-5 in Saturday's Ivy League season opener contested at the SL Green Street Squash Center.
Trailing 2-4 through six matches, Rau's match from the sixth seed was essential in keeping Columbia in contention. Rau and Errington earned 11-8 victories in the first and second game, respectively, leaving the match ripe for the taking. Rau toughed out a 14-12 victory in the third game before ceding the fourth to his Cornell counterpart (8-11). Through the cheers of an increasingly raucous croup, the duo battled through a series of match points before Rau snagged a 13-11 victory in one hour and 23 minutes.
ย
"Today was all about backing each other up. The support from my teammates was essential, having everyone cheering and coming together is so helpful," reflected Rau immediately following the match. "I was able to focus on performing well rather than worrying about the results of other games."
Justin Ghaeliย collected Columbia's first win of the afternoon, decisively defeatingย Humza Khan 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-7). Teammateย Adam Goad recorded a three-game win of his own, overcomingย Tanay Punjabi 3-0ย from the fifth spot. Goad only improved over the course of competition, winning the first game 11-7 before capturing the second 11-4 and third 11-3.
On the main court, second-seededย James Wyatt came away with a hard-fought victory over Cornell'sย Spencer Yagerย (3-2). Wyatt grabbed the first game 11-7 before dropping the second 7-11. The senior refused to forfeit momentum, grabbing the third set 12-10. Yager forced a fifth game with an 11-9 victory in the fourth set, but was unable to conquer the Columbian. Wyatt won with an 11-6 final game.
From the top spot, Callan Hall took one game away fromย Veer Chotraniย in aย 1-3ย match-decidingย loss.
Columbia travels to Williams next week for a 3:00 p.m. contest against the Ephs on Dec. 11.
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams onย Twitterย andย Instagramย (@CULionsSquash), onย Facebookย (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
#9 Cornell 5, #6 Columbia 4
(1)ย Veer Chotraniย (CORN) def.ย Callan Hall (COL) 3-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7)
(2)ย James Wyatt (COL) def.ย Spencer Yagerย (CORN) 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6)
(3)ย Arnaav Sareen (CORN) def.ย Harold Castiauxย (COL) 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-2)
(4)ย Charles Culhaneย (CORN) def.ย Chaitanya Shah (COL) 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5)
(5)ย Adam Goad (COL) def.ย Tanay Punjabi (CORN) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-3)
(6) Rutvik Rau (COL) def.ย Nicholas Goth Erringtonย (CORN) 3-2 (8-11, 11-8, 14-12, 8-11, 13-11)
(7)ย Nicholas Robinson (CORN) def. Ryan Chen (COL) 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-8)
(8)ย Justin Ghaeliย (COL) def.ย Humza Khan (CORN) 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-7)
(9)ย Rohan Iyerย (CORN) def.ย Jacob Bulbuliaย (COL) 3-0 (12-10, 11-5, 11-8)
ย
Trailing 2-4 through six matches, Rau's match from the sixth seed was essential in keeping Columbia in contention. Rau and Errington earned 11-8 victories in the first and second game, respectively, leaving the match ripe for the taking. Rau toughed out a 14-12 victory in the third game before ceding the fourth to his Cornell counterpart (8-11). Through the cheers of an increasingly raucous croup, the duo battled through a series of match points before Rau snagged a 13-11 victory in one hour and 23 minutes.
ย
Teamwork. Grit. Determination.
โ Columbia Squash (@CULionsSquash) December 5, 2021
Rutvik Rau battled to a 3โฃ-2โฃ victory from the six spot, supported by Lion nation!๐ฆ#RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/uB13ltc2z2
"Today was all about backing each other up. The support from my teammates was essential, having everyone cheering and coming together is so helpful," reflected Rau immediately following the match. "I was able to focus on performing well rather than worrying about the results of other games."
Justin Ghaeliย collected Columbia's first win of the afternoon, decisively defeatingย Humza Khan 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-7). Teammateย Adam Goad recorded a three-game win of his own, overcomingย Tanay Punjabi 3-0ย from the fifth spot. Goad only improved over the course of competition, winning the first game 11-7 before capturing the second 11-4 and third 11-3.
On the main court, second-seededย James Wyatt came away with a hard-fought victory over Cornell'sย Spencer Yagerย (3-2). Wyatt grabbed the first game 11-7 before dropping the second 7-11. The senior refused to forfeit momentum, grabbing the third set 12-10. Yager forced a fifth game with an 11-9 victory in the fourth set, but was unable to conquer the Columbian. Wyatt won with an 11-6 final game.
From the top spot, Callan Hall took one game away fromย Veer Chotraniย in aย 1-3ย match-decidingย loss.
Columbia travels to Williams next week for a 3:00 p.m. contest against the Ephs on Dec. 11.
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams onย Twitterย andย Instagramย (@CULionsSquash), onย Facebookย (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
#9 Cornell 5, #6 Columbia 4
(1)ย Veer Chotraniย (CORN) def.ย Callan Hall (COL) 3-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7)
(2)ย James Wyatt (COL) def.ย Spencer Yagerย (CORN) 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6)
(3)ย Arnaav Sareen (CORN) def.ย Harold Castiauxย (COL) 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-2)
(4)ย Charles Culhaneย (CORN) def.ย Chaitanya Shah (COL) 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5)
(5)ย Adam Goad (COL) def.ย Tanay Punjabi (CORN) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-3)
(6) Rutvik Rau (COL) def.ย Nicholas Goth Erringtonย (CORN) 3-2 (8-11, 11-8, 14-12, 8-11, 13-11)
(7)ย Nicholas Robinson (CORN) def. Ryan Chen (COL) 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-8)
(8)ย Justin Ghaeliย (COL) def.ย Humza Khan (CORN) 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-7)
(9)ย Rohan Iyerย (CORN) def.ย Jacob Bulbuliaย (COL) 3-0 (12-10, 11-5, 11-8)
ย
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
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