Yellowjackets at the ‘09 CSA Team Nationals

February 20th, 2009 Mithun Mukherjee Posted in College Squash, General, Video | Comments »

ROCHESTER BEAT HARVARD 7-2 FOR #3 SPOT IN THE NATION!

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#24 in 2006, #16 in 2007, #10 in 2008, and now #3 in 2009!

“…The Rochester Yellowjackets, a team whose talent was never questioned this year but ability to handle pressure was, defeated the Harvard Crimson 7-2 to finish third in the country….
…”Our goal was top four, but we thought we had a chance at three,” said Rochester head coach Martin Heath. “To actually finish third, it’s fantastic for the kids.”…
…”We got Bennie Fischer in January,” Heath said. “He strengthened the top of the lineup. He was a great addition. Our training worked out and we peaked at the right time. Hameed Ahmed is playing better. He is such a talented player, and I don’t think he has reached his potential.”
Heath and his team have no intention of slowing down or easing up now that they have proven to be a top team. Heath hopes to add more top recruits next season and to see his current players continue to improve.
“We don’t want to stop here,” Heath said….”

READ ALL ABOUT THE WIN AT SQUASHTALK!
Draw/Results – CSA Division I Potter Trophy

Rochester 7 Harvard 2 at Lawrenceville School, Sunday Feb 22nd
#	Rochester	Harvard	Winner	Scores
1	Jim Bristow	Colin West	Harvard	9-1 9-4 9-0
2	Bennie Fischer	Verdi Disesa	Rochester	9-0 9-0 9-5
3	Hameed Ahmed	Niko Hrdy	Rochester	9-1 9-5 9-0
4	Matt Domenick	Buchanan	Rochester	9-7 9-2 9-0
5	Fred Reid	Reed Endresen	Rochester	9-1 9-4 9-2
6	Will Newnham	Richard Hill	Harvard	9-6 9-5 9-0
7	Joe Chapman	Frank Cohen	Rochester	3-2
8	Adam Perkiomaki	Will Ahmed	Rochester	9-7 9-3 9-0
9	Yohay Wakabayashi	Ned Reeves	Rochester	9-1 9-6 7-9 1-9 9-6

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UPDATE: 2/22 8:15 PM – ROCHESTER BEAT HARVARD TODAY TO CLAIM #3 SPOT IN THE NATION! More details soon…
DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS TRINITY BEAT PRINCETON IN AN EPIC 5-4 FINAL BATTLE.

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UPDATE: 2/22 9:38 AM: Impressive showing by Rochester in spite of a loss to Princeton:

“…The two College squash men’s juggernauts (Princeton and Trinity) both won their semi final contests to move into another meeting at this years CSA Team Nationals. Both squads had to work hard for their wins, and Rochester in particular, were impressive in their opposition to Princeton, staking a very legimate claim for a position among the elite CSA contenders….
…The majority of Trinity’s matches against Harvard were short and one-sided, while several Princeton players engaged in long, physical duals against the University of Rochester. Crowd members whispered variations of “Rochester is helping Trinity out” – before the match was decided and long before Harvard and Trinity ever stepped on court….
…”Chris was frustrated he wasn’t able to do what he wanted to,” Callahan said. “Hameed was playing too well. He’s (Hameed) a wonderful talent, with exceptional shotmaking.”…
…Chapman stuck to the gameplan imparted to him by teammates who had played Shannon in the past: Hit the ball straight – straight drive or straight drop, and that’s it. And that gameplan gave Rochester it’s sole win today.
…”I think I played really well, some of the best squash of my life,” Chapman (pictured to the right) said after the match…
…”"I think Rochester is a very talented team,” Princeton coach Callahan said. “They played well today, did beautifully. I’m sure we’ll hear lots more about them over the next few years.”….
…Rochester is hoping people hear about a Sunday win over Harvard. The team lost 5-4 to Harvard in Cambridge during the season, squandering the opportunity to win it. Rochester head coach Martin Heath and his team are on a mission to turn the close loss into a win.
“This is why we’re here,” Heath said. “Our goal was to finish third this season. We’ve proven that we are a top team. Even Princeton and Trinity have to play their best with us.”…..”

Read the entire story on Day 2’s events at Squash Talk.

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UPDATE: 2/21 11:19 PM: Semifinals: Princeton bt. Rochester 9-1. Sole win for Rochester by Joe Chapman at #7. Tomorrow, the Yellowjackets take on the Harvard Crimson for third place. Given the 5-4 score in Harvard’s favor at their last faceoff, this one is up for grabs.

Princeton 8 Rochester 1
#	Princeton	Rochester	Winner	Scores
1	Mauricio Sanchez	Jim Bristow	Princeton	9-2 9-1 9-1
2	Kimlee Wong	Bennie Fischer	Princeton	9-3 9-7 9-4
3	Chris Callis	Hameed Ahmed	Princeton	4-9 9-7 1-9 9-7 9-5
4	David Letourneau	Matt Domenick	Princeton	10-8 4-9 9-2 9-1
5	David Canner	Fred Reid	Princeton	8-10 9-1 5-9 9-4 9-3
6	Hesham El Halaby	Will Newnham	Princeton	9-6 9-5 9-4
7	Kelly Shannon	Joe Chapman	Rochester	9-6 3-9 9-7 9-3
8	Santiago Imberton	Adam Perkiomaki	Princeton	9-3 9-4 9-3
9	Peter Sopher	Yohay Wakabayashi	Princeton	9-4 9-1 9-1
10	Jesus Pena	Ori Goldman	Princeton	9-1 9-0 9-3

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UPDATE: 02/21 10:45 AM – Yellowjacket #4 and US U23 National Team member, Matt Domenick must have slept soundly last night. Like the Energizer bunny, Domenick can go on and on. This was evident in the fifth and final game when his Yale opponent had no legs left but “M Dom” stood strong easily winning that last game 9-0.

….Ron Beck from Squashtalk asked Domenick what changed in game two, how he had turned things around. “It was simply confidence,” he said. “I knew I could win, and believing that, I just played that way.”….
…Coach Martin Heath reflected, “I think it’s the best I’ve ever seen him play, as a Yellowjacket or part of the U.S.Junior Men’s Team. He’s proven he is one of the best U23 players, and one of the best U.S. college players. He’s surpassed all expectations….

Read about the excitement – the entire first day’s report by Ron Beck and Kirsten Carlson at SquashTalk.
Also, a firsthand account on the day’s play by Paul Rubery.
The Yellowjackets play the #2 Princeton Tigers at noon today.

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UPDATE: 02/20 5:18 pm – Rochester bt. Yale 5-4. Domenick saves the day! Other key wins by Bristow, Fischer, Ahmed and Reid! Super effort by the entire team with two of the losses going down 3-2! A top 4 position is guaranteed.

Match point: M. Domenick clinches the win for Rochester (Video by Cathie Reid)	Rochester 5 Yale 4
	#	Rochester	Yale	Winner	Scores
	1	Jim Bristow	John Fulham	Rochester	9-4 9-0 6-9 9-0
	2	Bennie Fischer	Todd Ruth	Rochester	9-7 9-0 9-5
	3	Hameed Ahmed	John Roberts	Rochester	9-1 9-0 10-9
	4	Matt Domenick	Aaron Fuchs	Rochester	3-9 9-5 9-4 8-10 9-0
	5	Fred Reid	Ryan Dowd	Rochester	9-7 9-5 9-5
	6	Will Newnham	Colin Campbell	Yale	6-9 2-9 9-4 9-2 9-7
	7	Joe Chapman	Naishadh Lalwani	Yale	9-0 7-9 9-3 9-1
	8	Adam Perkiomaki	Francis Johnson	Yale	9-3 9-1 2-9 5-9 9-2
	9	Yohay Wakabayashi	Chris Plimpton	Yale	9-6 9-0 9-0
	10	Robbie Berner	Edwin Goncharuk	Yale	9-1 9-5 9-6

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02/20 10:15 am: #6 Rochester square off against #3 Yale at noon today in the first round of the team nationals, the culmination of the 08-09 college squash season in Princeton, NJ. A win today will assure them at least a season ending position at #4. Watch this space through the weekend for updated results, news and special reports directly from Princeton by members of the squad.