St. Lawrence University's men's squash team finished second to the University of Rochester in the Liberty League Squash Championships at Vassar, going 2-1 with a pair of 9-0 victories.
The Saints, ranked 16th nationally, split their opening matches in the tournament, losing to the University of Rochester, which is ranked fourth nationally, 6-3 and blitzing Vassar 9-0. Hobart split its opening matches, beating Vassar, but losing 9-0 to Rochester. SLU came back to beat Hobart 9-0 on Sunday.
Rochester won the top six matches against the Saints, although Amay Merchant tested Rochester's Andres Duamy at number one as the two traded 11-6 wins before Duamy prevailed 11-3, 11-8. Roger Miller beat Robert McDavid 3-1 at seven, Jermaine Xaba beat Rochester's Juan Herrera 3-0 at eight and Russell Woeltz beat Bjoru Ahbel of Rochester 3-0 at nine for the Saint wins in the match.
The Saints had little trouble in sweeping Vassar as all nine matches were decided in three games and the Saints did not give up more than nine points in any one game.
Merchant beat Jake Harris 3-0 at one, freshman Vir Seth won his first collegiate match with a 3-0 win at two, senior Alex Dodge won 3-0 at three, rookie Will Campo was a 3-0 winner at four, allowing just five points in three games, and Michael Badali topped that at five, allowing just three points in his 3-0 win.
Thoma Kraft won 3-0 at six, Nathan Tico beat Yi tan 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 at seven, Miller won 3-0 at eight to go to 2-0 in the tournament and Xaba won easily at nine to also improve to 2-0 heading into Sunday's final match.
Against Hobart, Merchant won the first two games before Corey Kabot was forced to retire. Seth won his match at two, 3-1 and Dodge was a 3-0 winner at three. Campo and TJ Dyer of Hobart had an outstanding match at four with Campo winning 9-11, 11-6, 12-10 and 11-7 while Badali won in straight games at five.
Kraft won in four against Carl Ranieri at six, Tico won in four at seven and Miller won in three at eight. Xaba completed a 3-0 weekend with a 3-1 win at nine.
