Binghamton’s men’s tennis team ended its regular season with an emotional win on Senior Day. The Bearcats (15-6) won the doubles point and then four out of six singles matches to defeat visiting SUNY rival Buffalo (11-8) 5-2.
“The match went well for us,” said head coach Michael Starke. “I was very emotional. Four years culminate down to one moment, so it’s a big moment and a big day. I want to send them off with the fondest farewell.”
The three senior captains — Richemn Mourad, Brian O’Connor and Edwin Gerard — were acknowledged before the match by Starke with a small speech and a framed picture of the players and coach.
It was a bittersweet day for the seniors, as only one of them won their singles match: Gerard won easily at fifth singles 6-0, 6-2, but Mourad and O’Connor lost at the top two spots. O’Connor fell to Nikesh Sing Panthlia in a close match 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (11-9).
“I had it to win and I just choked it away,” O’Connor said. “He’s a good player and played really well.”
“Brian has been a warrior for four years,” Starke added. “He’s Mr. Bearcat. He maybe put a little too much pressure on himself for Senior Day. I am confident he will bring it in the conference tournament.”
Junior Aurielo Martinez picked up his teammates with a win at No. 3 singles 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6).
“I was impressed with Aurielo,” Starke said. “In the past, it would have been a match he would have lost. I took that as a good sign.”
Sophomores Faisal Mohamed and Mark Piro picked up wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Mohamed won 6-2, 6-2 and Piro won 6-0, 6-2.
The Bearcats ended their season winning eight of their last nine matches, and will look to defend their three consecutive America East titles this weekend at Yale.
AMERICA EAST TOURNAMENT PREVIEW:
Binghamton will look to win its fourth consecutive America East Championship this weekend but, unlike last year, the Bearcats enter the tournament as an underdog.
The Stony Brook Seawolves hold the No. 1 seed, as they defeated Binghamton 5-2 during the regular season.
“It gives us something to fight for,” said head coach Michael Starke. “They felt they won the Super Bowl after they beat us. They were the better team then, but I think we can turn the tables.”
The Bearcats have won the past three AE titles over the Seawolves in the championship match by identical scores, 4-3. But Binghamton can’t focus on Stony Brook just yet. BU must first defeat the winner of the UMBC/Hartford match in the semifinals.
Binghamton defeated UMBC earlier in the year 5-2 and swept Hartford 7-0. But while some players may be excited about the potential rematch with Stony Brook, senior Brian O’Connor thinks his team should take this tournament one game at a time.
“[Hartford has] talent throughout the lineup and if we lose, it’s my last match, so I definitely won’t look past them,” O’Connor said.
If the Bearcats are going to repeat as champions, they must play well in doubles. The Seawolves swept all three doubles matches on April 10 by scores of 8-4, 8-6 and 8-6.
“We don’t have to win that doubles point to win the match, but we have to play that point great,” Starke said. “We need to go to war. I certainly want to win that doubles point. We need to at least win one of those matches or else we can kiss it goodbye.”