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Princeton University Athletics
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No. 2 Men's Squash Hopes For One More Shot At Trinity, National Title
February 23, 2007 | Men's Squash
The 2007 Ivy League champion Princeton men's squash team enters this weekend's CSA national team championships as the second seed, but it also joins every other team as a decisive underdog to the eight-time defending national champion Trinity Bantams. The Tigers, who open their pursuit of a title Friday at 12:30 against No. 7 Williams, could also be without one of their talented freshmen. No. 6 player David Canner, a former GoPrincetonTigers.com Athlete of the Week, was injured against Trinity, and his status for the weekend is unknown.
Princeton brings both talent and experience into the three-day tournament. Led by its fabulous sophomore trio of No. 1 Mauricio Sanchez, No. 2 Hesham El Halaby and No. 3 Kimlee Wong, Princeton went 8-1 during the regular season and swept its Ivy League rivals. Only last Saturday's 7-2 home loss against Trinity kept the Tigers from a perfect season, but that match could have lasting effects into this week. Canner was injured in the fourth game of a loss to No. 6 Manek Mathur, and if he is unable to go this weekend, it will force four players to move up one spot.
That shouldn't have an effect Friday against Williams, but it will play a major role in the likely semifinal showdown with Harvard. The Crimson came into the regular season showdown with Princeton as the nation's No. 2 team, but the Tigers pulled out a gutsy 6-3 home win, which included an exciting comeback victory by Canner. Princeton also got a big win from Sanchez, who knocked off national No. 1 player Sid Suchde in three games. While Sanchez has yet to drop a single game at No. 1 this season, Suchde is a national finalist and is fully healthy coming into the weekend. Regardless of the team result, fans at Yale could see a preview of the 2007 national individual final in that match.
The top of the draw should belong to Trinity, although the most competitive quarterfinal will be between No. 4 Penn and No. 5 Yale. The Quakers stunned Yale in New Haven earlier this season, but the proud Bulldogs squad will be tough to defeat twice on its home court.
The full schedule and all lineups can be accessed by clicking on the link above. GoPrincetonTigers.com will have nightly updates following each session.