The No. 8 Big Green men's team (11-7, 1-5 Ivy) dropped every match in straight games against No. 2 Princeton (11-0, 6-0 Ivy) on Saturday. The players continued their disappointing play, losing to No. 7 Penn (7-5, 2-4 Ivy) on Sunday in what turned out to be the team's tightest match of the season.
The Dartmouth men had the chance to pull off an upset against the Quakers as they entered the final round of games with a gridlocked score of 3-3. The Big Green, however, could not find a way to capitalize, and were edged out by a 5-4 margin.
Nick Sisodia '12 said victory could have easily swung in the Big Green's direction.
"All the way down the line-up we were even with them," he said. "It was 50-50 from the start."
In the number-one spot, co-captain Andrew Boumford '09 rebounded from a 2-1 deficit against Penn freshman Thomas Mattsson, taking the final two games, 9-7, 9-5.
"Andrew is better known as the axe," said Sisodia, "He does not really play squash. It's more of an art form. He maneuvers his opponents around the court like puppets."
Sisodia, in the number-two spot, dispatched his opponent, Penn sophomore James Clark, in three games.
Michael Lewis '11, seeded at number five, also came out victorious in five games.
Ted Newhouse '09, Brian O'Toole '12 and co-captain Tyler Young '09, in the number-three, four and seven spots, respectively, played formidable opponents and brought their matches to the fifth game, yet none of them could sustain their momentum for a victory.
Sisodia said he was taking Sunday's loss in stride, looking back on the team's camaraderie and overall progress throughout the season.
"This has been a great season for the Big Green," he said. "Despite some gutting losses, we've set an image on the college squash scene that we are capable of beating any team on any given day. The upperclassmen have cultivated a great team atmosphere and made the freshman feel extremely comfortable."
Sisodia said he hopes the team will mirror the success it had in the earlier part of the season at the College Squash Association Team National Championships on February 20th in Princeton N.J.
"This season is only a sign of good things to come, but first we're going to get our second chances and do damage at nationals in two weeks," he said.
On the women's side, the No. 10 Dartmouth (7-8, 0-6 Ivy) squad found themselves flogged by No. 1 Princeton (10-0, 6-0 Ivy) and No. 2 Penn (9-2, 4-3 Ivy) in double-header matches.
Princeton, the two-time defending national champion, nearly swept the Big Green players, as the Tigers dismantled Dartmouth by a score of 8-1.
Playing in the number-five spot, Taylor Tully '11 claimed Dartmouth's only point after her opponent, senior Maggie O'Toole, retired with an injury after the first game.
The Big Green also managed a single victory in the next day's match against Penn, repeating the previous day's final score of 8-1.
The day's best efforts against the Quakers came from the lower-seeded players.
Danielle Fuschetti '10, playing at the number-nine spot, prevented a shutout by trading games with senior Anita Seller. Fuschetti's late push took the match to a fifth game and her efforts posted Dartmouth's only point.
In the number-ten position, Heather Binnie '12 dug deep against senior Allie Friedman after a two-game deficit, bringing the score to a deadlock in the fifth game. Binnie's efforts fell short, however, as Friedman took control of final game.
The men's team will get the chance to recuperate for a week before squaring off against Trinity College in the first round of the CSA Team National Championships on Feb. 20.
The women's team is heading to Cambridge, Mass. to compete in the Howe Cup Championships on Feb. 13 at Harvard.
