PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Jan. 22, 2012) – The Saint Francis U. men's tennis team let a, 5-2, match against Drexel slip away on Sunday afternoon at the Drexel Armory. 

Nathaniel Fleming and Andres Rosa (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Colegio la Piedad) got off to a good start with a solid, 8-4, win at no. 1 doubles and the momentum seemed to carry over to the no. 2 spot.  Sergio Carvajal (Nueva Esparta, Venezuela/U.E. Fray Elias Maria Sendra) and Chris Jimenez (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Preparatory) jumped out to an early, 4-1, advantage but their Dragon opponents came from behind to pull off an, 8-6, win to tie doubles play up.

At no. 3 doubles, freshmen Lawson Barter (Chicago, Ill./Loyola) and Juan Pardo (Bogota, Colombia/Colegio Andino) got out to a, 4-1, edge but, once again, the Drexel entry came from behind to clinch the match and the point, 9-8 (8-6).

Drexel too the first two points in singles competition before Carvajal pulled out a hard-fought win over Jeganathan Srinivasan in the no. 3 spot.

After a loss at the no. 4 spot, freshman Lawson Barter (Chicago, Ill./Loyola) registered a victory in the no. 5 spot to earn the final Red Flash point of the afternoon.

“I underestimated Drexel and they worked us hard to pull out the win,” said Flash head coach Paul Tobin.  “Despite some tight scores, we made way too many errors in all positions.  I was very impressed with Lawson and Sergio – both pulled out good wins.”

Saint Francis returns to action on Jan. 28 when it visits UMBC for an 11 a.m. match.



Drexel 5, Saint Francis U. 2
Philadelphia, Pa. (Drexel Amory)

DOUBLES
Fleming/Rosa (SFU) def. Quabdelmounen/Davis (D), 8-4
Nguyen/Hunsen (D) def. Carvajal/Jimenez (SFU), 8-6
Talone/Koehler (D) def. Barter/Pardo (SFU), 9-8 (8-6)

SINGLES
Badr Quabdelmounen (D) def. Fleming (SFU), 6-2, 6-3
Bryan Nguyen (D) def. Rosa (SFU), 6-3, 6-3
Carvajal (SFU) def. Jeganathan Srinivasan (D), 7-5, 6-3 (10-8)
Skylar Davis (D) def. Chris Jimenez (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Preparatory) (SFU), 6-3, 6-3
Lawson Barter (Chicago, Ill./Loyola) (SFU) def. Daniel Hansen (D), 6-1, 3-6 (13-11)
Paul Stauskas (D) def. Juan Pardo (Bogota, Colombia/Colegio Andino) (SFU), 8-6