Salisbury and Towson, MD – The SUNY Oneonta men's tennis team has struggled with injuries this year diluting its roster throughout the season.  Despite this, the squad has put out a very competitive lineup on the court against some of the Region's better teams and this weekend was no exception.  First on tap was the number 15 regionally ranked Salisbury University Sea Gulls.  The Red Dragons were shut out by Salisbury but had several notable performances. 

Without their regular number one player in the lineup junior Nicholas Fox (Commack/Commack) played out of position in the number one singles position and was one service game from taking a set from his rival.   However, he was broken and went down in straight sets.  Senior Cole Laffitte (East Setauket/Ward Melville) lost the first set by just one break and played a very competitive match but also settled for a straight set loss.

The following day the Red Dragons traveled to Towson, MD and played the defending Landmark Conference Champion Goucher College Gophers.  Last year the Red Dragons took down the champs in a 5-4 thriller.  The Gophers were looking for revenge and again the Red Dragons took the courts with a depleted lineup and came away with a respectable 7-2 competitive loss.  The highlight was Laffitte who played a great weekend of tennis as he put together an impressive win playing out of position in the third spot pulling out a win earning victory with a score of 6-3, 1-6 and 10-8.  The Red Dragons were not done as senior James Garzia (Marcellus/Marcellus) got the call today from the bench and played in the sixth spot.  Garzia was steady and earned a very impressive straight set triumph with perhaps the best win in his career as a Red Dragon with his teammates rooting him on from the sideline.  The match was recorded as a 6-3, 6-4 win for the senior in a very memorable match for him.

The Red Dragon men try to get back in the win column as they play the Hartwick College Hawks as the visiting team that will be played on the campus of SUNY Oneonta at the Heissan '63 Tennis Courts beginning at 4 PM on Tuesday, April 24^th.