The #19/seventh-seeded Middlebury men's squash team battled #15/third-seeded Franklin & Marshall before falling 6-3 during Saturday's action in the College Squash Association (CSA) Hoehn Cup Semifinals. The three-day tournament is being contested at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Diplomats secured the first three points with wins at #8 (3-0), #6 (3-1) and #2 (3-2).
• David Zhao continued his strong play, picking up his eighth-consecutive triumph with a four-game victory (11-4, 11-9, 9-11 and 11-5) in the ninth slot to pull Middlebury within a pair at 3-1.
• F&M posted sweeps at #3 and #4 to clinch the match.
• In the seventh spot, Charlie Clifford earned his 13th win of the winter, tallying an 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 and 11-0 victory.
• Caleb Boateng quickly followed with an impressive sweep in the middle of the ladder, not surrendering a point in the third game (13-11, 11-5, 11-0) to bring the Panthers to within 5-3.
• The Diplomats posted a 3-0 decision in the top slot for the final 6-3 score.

NOTES

• Middlebury is making its 17th appearance at the championships and secured a spot in the Hoehn Cup for the fifth time overall.
• The programs played for the second time this season and the 14th time overall. The contest marked the first meeting in the postseason.

The Panthers play in the Hoehn Cup Third/Fourth-Place match against #16/fourth-seeded Colby on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The sides squared off back on January 19 in Maine with the Mules edging the Panthers 5-4 and again by the same score in the NESCAC Tournament Quarterfinals.