May 17, 2002
Shoremen Eliminated by Slugs
in NCAA Team Tournament

SANTA CRUZ, CA -- The Washington College Shoremen were eliminated from the NCAA Division III Team Championship Tournament today by the host UC-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, 4-1, in a quarterfinal match. The fourth-seeded Slugs (12-8) picked up the doubles point and then won four of the five singles matches to finish to earn the win against the fifth-seeded Shoremen (17-4).

In doubles, Nick Cunningham and Brian Casey defeated WC seniors Jose' Lejarraga (Bahia Blanca, Argentina/Escuela Normal Superior) and Seth Morgan (Chalmette, LA/J.J. Pearce, TX), 8-4, at No. 1 and Ben Bartels and Andrew Cohen downed WC junior Louis Blanchette (Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada/Mathieu-Martin) and freshman Asfand Farouk (Karachi, Pakistan/City School), 8-4, at No. 3.

At No. 1 singles, Cunningham took two close sets from Lejarraga, 7-6(5), 7-6(0). Bartels defeated WC freshman Rafael Martins (Vitoria, Brazil/Prof. Anibal de Freitas/Cristelo) 7-5, 6-4 at No. 4, while Cohen topped Farouk in three sets at No. 5, 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-3. Blanchette picked up the Shoremen's only point with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Matt Brunner at No. 6.

The Banana Slugs will play Gustavus Adolphus in one semifinal tomorrow, while Williams will play Emory in the other.

While the Shoremen's season as a team came to an end today, Lejarraga and Morgan will be in action next week. Lejarraga will play in the Division III Singles Championship Tournament and will team with Morgan in the Division III Doubles Championship Tournament. Both tournaments begin Monday and will also take place in Santa Cruz.

Match Results