PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- No. 26 Bates College succumbed to No. 23 St. Lawrence University Friday on day one of the 2024 National Collegiate Men's Team Squash Championships as the Bobcats found themselves on the wrong end of a 7-2 decision vs. the No.3 seeded Saints.

Bates, serving as the No. 6 seed in the Summers Cup division of the event, will now take on No. 7 seeded and No. 27 ranked Denison University in Saturday's Consolation bracket at 9:00 a.m. as the Big Red dropped a 7-2 result to No. 22 Navy. The No. 23 Saints (11-10) move on to play the No. 2 seeded Midshipmen in the semifinals, also Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

Junior Labeeb Ali and first-year Nicolai Boe proved victorious for the Bobcats (3-14) in their respective matches at positions No. 2 and No. 3. Ali, after dropping his first game to Alexander Scott (So.-Hull, England), came all the way back with wins of 11-4, 11-9, 11-8 to seal the 3-1 triumph.

Boe, at No. 3 and trailing 2-games-to-1, fired off victories of 11-9 and 11-7 to secure a 3-2, come-from-behind win vs. Harrison Callaway (So.- Port Chester, N.Y.).