WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - Four days after a thrilling NESCAC Championship run, including a come-from-behind win over Middlebury, the Ephs pulled out an unlikely 5-4 win after a 4-1 deficit. Brown came into the match at No. 19 in the College Squash Rankings while the Ephs improved to No. 17 after last weekend's impressive performance. 

Playing a three-court system, the Men got off to a slow start after losing at the number nine and number six positions. Co-Captain Ben Eisenberg '19 (#9), who had a big upset against Trinity last weekend, led the charge and was competitive the first game, a tie-breaker that could have swung his favor, but was unable to change the momentum in the match, losing in a close three games. Krish Bhavnani '22 (#6) started slow before taking the third game decisively only to drop the fourth, 11-6, to a skilled Brown opponent. Helping the Ephs get on the board, Wyatt Khosrowshahi '21 (#3) controlled the court and tired his opponent out with his accuracy and triumphed 3-1. 

At 2-1 Brown, the Ephs dropped a point at number eight after David Pincus '20 (#8) struggled to carry his strong form from the NESCAC Championship and was edged in a very tight four games. Similarly, Carl Shuck '20 (#2) lost his footing in his match after losing a coin-toss first game, 14-12, and was defeated in three games. Brown lead the Ephs 4-1.

On a lifeline, the Ephs were spared after Jacob Bassil '22 (#5) fought tooth and nail to put himself back in the match after losing the first two games and winning the third game in a tiebreaker 12-10. He continued to attack and won the fourth 11-8 and was neck and neck in a contentious fifth game before seizing the fifth, 11-8, and making the score 4-2 Brown. Then, Co-Captain John Fitzgerald '19 (#1) added another point to the board with strong play and a comeback from 10-7 down in the third to win in three games. A.J. Solecki '21 (#7) sent the match to a decider when he found his groove and took a 2-1 lead after winning a critical third game in a tiebreak, 12-10. Solecki grinded hard to squeeze the fourth game 11-8 and send the match to 4-4. 

In a repeat of last weekend against Middlebury, William Means '20 (#4) showed mental toughness in the deciding match. Dropping the first game, Means looked as if he was on the brink of caving but stuck with it and managed to take the second game in a tie-breaker, 12-10. Building momentum, Means captured the third game 11-7. His opponent did not give in and took the fourth game 11-9 after a long rally at 10-9. Means was trailing in the fifth game by a two-point cushion at 8-6 but capitalized on a loose ball and error from his opponent and won another couple of points to give himself two match balls at 10-8. His opponent saved one but folded 11-9, sealing the match for the Ephs at 5-4.

The Ephs will take on MIT on Sunday at 2:00pm at the Simon Squash Center.