Big Green Upset Second-Ranked Harvard, 5-4

Tuesday, December 1

Hanover, N.H.

5:00 PM

Dartmouth College

Harvard

12/1/2015 8:43:00 PM | Men's Squash

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. – For the first time in nearly 70 years, the Dartmouth men's squash team defeated Harvard.

Freshman Matthew Giegerich won the decisive point with a 13-11 victory to boost the 11th-ranked Big Green to a 5-4 victory over the three-time defending Ivy League champion and second-ranked Crimson on Tuesday evening at the Berry Sports Center. It is the first win for Dartmouth over Harvard since the 1945-46 season when the Green won two meetings, and the first since the Ivy League formed in 1956.

With the victory, the Green start the season 1-0, while the Crimson drop to 0-1.

Sophomore Brian Giegerich and junior Nicholas Harrington won hard fought matches to give Dartmouth an early 2-1 lead over its Ancient Eight rival. Senior captain, James Fisch won a crucial match for the Big Green after winning his first two games and coming from behind in his third. Sophomore Alvin Heumann and senior Kyle Martino lost narrowly in four games.

In what would be an eventful slate of final matches, junior Glen Brickman shut down his Crimson opponent in straight games to take the match. Freshman Carson Spahr fell 3-0 to Harvard, which sent the two schools tied 4-4 with one match to go. Matthew Giegerich fell behind 2-1, but fought back valiantly to tie the game, 2-2.

In the final game of the match, Matthew Giegerich established the lead twice, but couldn't put away his experienced opponent. After going up 12-11, he closed out the match and sealed the historic victory for Dartmouth with a forehand drop shot to take the final game, 13-11.

Following their victory, the Big Green travel to Franklin & Marshall on Dec. 3 and Navy on Dec. 4.

RESULTS:

David Ryan (H) def. Carson Spahr (D) – 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
Bryan Koh (H) def. Alvin Heumann (D) 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4
Bradley Smith (H) def. Samuel Epley (D) 11-6, 11-5, 11-8
Matthew Giegerich (D) def. Madhav Dhingra (H) 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11
Devin McLaughlin (H) def. Kyle Martino (D) 3-11,11-8,11-6,11-8
Nicholas Harrington (D) def. Alexi Gosset (H) 11-8,8-11,11-2,11-2
Glen Brickman (D) def. Matt Roberts (H) 13-11,11-7,11-7
James Fisch (D) def. Jack Cooper (H) 11-4,11-4,13-11
Brian Giegerich (D) def. Ethan Shoihet (H) 11-5,6-11,14-12,11-8