Men's squash to host Drexel

No. 10 men’s squash (1-1) is set to take on the Drexel Dragons (0-2) at Jadwin Gymnasiumthis Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. After a decisive 9-0 victory over Franklin and Marshall followed by a narrow 4-5 loss to Navy at the tail end of November, the team looks forward to redeeming its present 1-1 record with this face-off against the No. 12 Drexel program.

The Tigers’ home opener against Franklin and Marshall (ranked eighth) was a thrilling experience with a great crowd turnout. However, the team's loss to No. 16 Navy the next day taught some important lessons. The first three matches of the day all went Navy’s way, but Princeton came back strong and nearly cinched a victory. Going into this next match, freshman Komron Shayegan said, “Getting the performances and results early in the match will be key.”

Despite the surprising outcomes of the first two matches, the team feels strong heading into the Drexel match. Core to this confidence is a series of high intensity, quality practices the Tigers have had over the last few weeks. In addition, the players point to their extremely focused team and individual mentalities that allow them to be a competitive program. However, the nature of Division I college squash is that every year the entire competition field grows stronger. Shayegan said, “This year, there are a lot of programs that can compete with one another, making every match important. Drexel is no exception.”

However, we can already see how this year’s men’s team is stronger than last year's. Once again, the number one and two spots are occupied by seniors Samuel Kang and Tyler Osborne, both of whom were part of the 2012 Ivy League/CSA champion team. With formidable experience and skill, these co-captains are set to take on the top two players Drexel has to offer.

Following the men’s match, the Princeton women's team will also challenge Drexel starting at7:30 p.m. The women boast a 2-0 record after defeating both Franklin and Marshall (9-0) and Wesleyan (8-1) at the start of the season.

For both the men and women,Wednesdayis another important step on the road to nationals. Head down to Jadwin to cheer on the Tigers as they take on this non-conference opponent.