Becker Tops Men's Tennis in NECC Semifinals
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Third-seeded Becker College advanced to the finals of the NECC Men's Tennis Championship with a 6-3 victory over second-seeded Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Tennis Courts.
The Hawks (7-5 overall) overcame a 2-1 deficit following doubles play by winning five of six singles matches to secure their first-ever appearance in the finals. Becker will play at top-seeded Regis College on Sunday, April 26 at noon.
The match started with Mitchell winning at the top two doubles spots. Adam Diaz and Orson Sinclair held off Aaron Peterson and Connor Allison at the top spot to win 8-6. At No. 2, Graham Cavanaugh and Michael Berman ousted Thomas Lanphear and Thomas Nourie by an 8-5 final.
Becker salvaged a hard-fought point at No. 3 to stay in the match as Brittain Morris and Francis Musick topped Chris McKeon and Zack Rocheleau by a score of 9-7.
The momentum shifted in singles play as Morris and Allison won in straight sets at No. 3 and 4, respectively, to set the pace. Diaz breezed past Lanphear at No. 2 to earn a point for Mitchell, but the final three matches all belonged to the Hawks. Nourie bested McKeon in straight sets at No. 6 while both Peterson and Brian Fradsham triumphed in three sets.
The win at No. 1 singles by Peterson sealed the match for the Hawks. He won the first set 6-3 before Cavanaugh battled back for a 6-3 win in the second. The final set was close, though Peterson prevailed by a 6-4 margin to send his squad to the finals.
Mitchell (6-6 overall) will close out the regular season with a home match against Albertus Magnus College on Monday, April 27 at 3 p.m.