No. 6 Men’s Squash Drops Close Contest To No. 15 Western Ontario

Sunday, January 14

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

11:30 AM

Columbia University

#15 Western Ontario

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.

No. 6 Men’s Squash Drops Close Contest To No. 15 Western Ontario

1/14/2024 10:40:00 PM | Men's Squash

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The Lions suffer their first loss of the season

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The No. 6 Columbia men's squash team suffered its first loss of the season Sunday afternoon as the Lions dropped a 5-4 decision to No. 15 Western Ontario in a neutral site match played in Poughkeepsie. Columbia falls to 4-1 on the season heading into the start of Ivy League play.

Sunday's match was close and came down to the No. 1 spot where Franklyn Smith played Western Ontario's Salaheldin Eltorgman. Smith took an early lead with a 13-11 win in the first game. Eltorgman bounced back to take the next three games, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 to secure the victory for Western Ontario.

Shaurya Bawa, Rutvik Rau, Adam Goad and Ryan Chen secured wins, but Western Ontario used four wins between the No. 1 and 5 spots to secure the team victory.

Bawa cruised in the No. 3 position with an 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 win against Antonio Mendes. Rau and Goad also earned shutout wins. Rau earned an 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 victory in the No. 6 spot. Goad posted an 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 win in the No. 7 spot. Chen took an 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 13-11 victory at the No. 8 spot.

UP NEXT
The Lions are back in action Friday to open Ivy League play. Columbia will travel to No. 5 Princeton for a 1 p.m. match.

FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams on X and Instagram (@CULionsSquash), on Facebook (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.