ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The sixth-ranked University of Pennsylvania men's squash team defeated No. 5 Rochester, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon to improve to 5-0. The win marks the first time since in three years that Penn has started 5-0 and its first win on the road against the Yellowjackets. The Quakers wrap up the 2018 calendar year on Sunday against No. 4 St. Lawrence. 

How it Happened

The Quakers and Yellowjackets have had their fair share of battles over the past three years. The two squads have faced off six times - three times in the regular season and three times in the Potter Cup. Last season it was the Red and Blue who came out on top in the regular season and Saturday would be no different. Penn's three freshmen led the way securing three of the team's six points in the win. 

At no. 4 and no. 5 it was the Canadian duo of James Flynn and Michael Mehl earning 3-1 wins. Flynn split the opening two games 11-9, 5-11, but came back to win the third,11-7 to take an important 2-1 lead. The freshman then edged out a tight 12-10 fourth game to clinch his match. Unlike Flynn, Mehl won the opening two games winning two close games 13-11 and 12-10. After losing the third while still holding a 2-1 overall lead, Mehl won 11-9 in the fourth. 

To complete the freshman trifecta, Aly Abou Eleinen won in his debut at the second spot in the lineup. Eleinen won the opening two games which included a 13-11 win in the opener. He lost a 13-11 third game, but bounced back to take the fourth in convincing 11-4 fashion. 

Clinching the match for the Quakers was sophomore Yash Bhargava who won a five game thriller at number seven. Bhargava split the opening two games earning 11-6 and 11-9 wins in the first and third games. The final game, like the match, was very close, but in the end it was the Penn sophomore who prevailed 11-9 giving the Quakers their fifth point. 

Andrew Douglas played a tight match once again with Ashley Davies but came up short 3-2. David Yacobucci came up short in a five game match as well. Also earning wins for the Quakers were Karim Hussein and Jonathan Zeitels. 

What's Next

Penn will stay in upstate New York as they head to St. Lawrence to play the fourth-ranked Saints Sunday at noon. 

Results

1. Ashley Davis (ROC) def. Andrew Douglas (PENN) - 11-9,5-11,11-9,0-11,11-4
2. Aly Abou Eleinen (PENN) def. Ricardo Lopez (ROC) - 13-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-4
3. Matthew Toth (ROC) def. David Yacobucci (PENN) - 9-11,7-11,11-9,11-9,11-5
4. James Flynn (PENN) def.Lawrence Kuhn (ROC) - 11-9, 5-1, 11-7, 12-10
5. Michael Mehl (PENN) def.Thijs Van der Plujim (ROC) - 13-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9
6. Karim Hussein (PENN) def. Marcus Sim (ROC) - 14-12, 3-11, 12-10, 11-8
7. Yash Bhargava (PENN) def. Cesar Segundo - 11-6, 3-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9
8. Rodrigo Porras (ROC) def. Wil Hagen (PENN) - 11-5,6-11,11-7,11-9
9. Jonathan Zeitels (PENN) def. Alexander Riedelsheimer (ROC) 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8
10 (EXH). Siddhant Iyer (ROC) d. Alex Norman (PENN) - 11-6,11-4,11-9