Oneonta, NY -- The EC Men's Tennis team fought well, but ultimately fell 7-2 against Hartwick College Thursday afternoon in Oneonta. Although the Soaring Eagles were not able to win the match, they showed more heart and guts than ever before. The Hawks improve to 2-8 overall and 2-4 in conference, while the Soaring Eagles fall to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference.  
 
In doubles action Hartwick came out strong and controlled all three matches opening up an early 3-0 match lead. However in singles, EC played some of their best tennis all year and stayed in almost every match. Eric Klinedinst '12 (York, PA -- Northeastern) suffered a tough loss at first singles losing 6-0, 6-1. Gorav Simlote '13 (Syracuse, NY -- Jamesville-Dewitt) and Sam Pine '14 (Elmira, NY -- Thomas Edison), at second and third singles, played some of their best tennis fighting in each set. Simlote lost a tough first set 6-4 then eventually fell in the second 6-1, while Pine struggled in the first set losing 6-0 then eventually battled back losing 6-4 in the second set. Steffan Waters '13 (Elmira, NY -- Elmira Free Academy) also played well losing in a three set tiebreaker, 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7-10), after struggling in the first set. 
 
The highlights of the match for EC came at the fifth and sixth singles spots as George Smith '13 (Watseka, IL -- Granite City) and Dylan Christman '15 (Wellsboro, PA -- Wellsboro) proved to be major competitors. Christman, at sixth singles, finished with EC's first point edging out the first set 7-5, then cruising in the second set 6-0. Smith, at fifth singles, battled in the first set winning late 7-5 then fought even harder in the second to prevail 6-4 for EC's second team point.
 
The EC Men's Tennis team will return to action Saturday, April 21st when it travels to Rochester, NY to take on Nazareth College in conference action starting at 1:00 p.m.