Yale Edges Cornell 5-4

Jan. 17, 2009

ITHACA, NY - Yale improved to 8-0 this season with a 5-4 win over Cornell Saturday in Ithaca. Although the Bulldogs dropped the top four matches, their bottom of the lineup came up big in helping Yale pull out the close one.

At the top of the lineup, the Bulldogs lost all four matches three games to zero. At the bottom of the lineup, they squeezed out two wins by a score of three to one and three wins by a score of three to two.

At No. 5, freshman John Roberts defeated Dave Hilton 9-7, 9-1, 4-9, 9-6. Senior Francis Johnson dropped his first game 10-8 at No. 6, but battled back to defeat opponent Charlie Wagner 9-2, 9-6, 9-6 in the final three games.

Freshman Ryan Dowd dropped his first two games, but then battled back to pull out the victory at No. 7. Dowd lost the first two games 10-8, 9-5 and had his back against the wall in the third game. The freshman pulled out the victory though by defeating opponent McKay Claghorn 10-9, 9-1, 9-3 in the final three games.

At No. 8, senior Colin Campbell battled to a 3-9, 9-2, 9-6, 4-9, 9-3 win over Steven Peever. Sophomore Christopher Plimpton went up two games to none before opponent Chris Vernick tied it up at two games all. But Plimpton managed to pull out the 9-1, 9-6, 4-9, 5-9, 9-1 win at No. 9.

The Bulldogs will face perennial power Trinity Wednesday in Hartford.

Results