BEL AIR, Md.—The Harford men's tennis team struggled in the doubles matches and couldn't manage to get anything going during the singles portion of the match as it fell, 7-2, in a rematch against Rhode Island on Wednesday at Harford CC.
The Fighting Owls (1-1) fell in all three doubles matches and managed just two wins, at No. 4 and No. 5 singles as they fell to the Knights (1-2) in the second match against Rhode Island in three days.
Freshmen Josh Meier (Belcamp, Md./Home School) and Chris Blackwell (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air/RPI) were the only winners for Harford on the day, as Meier defeated Mike Wilbur, 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 3 singles spot and Blackwell downed Dan Rivard, 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 4 spot.
Sophomore Brian McKeldin (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) and freshman Steve Heagy (Fallston, Md./Fallston) came the closest to a win during the doubles matches, but fell to Chris Izzo and Lachance, 9-7 in the No. 3 spot.
Meier and freshman Josh Hicks (Fallston, Md./Home School) fell to Nate York and Alex Cavanagh, 8-2 at No.1 doubles, while freshman Josh Hays (Belcamp, Md./Harford Tech) and Blackwell were defeated by Wilbur and Rivard, 8-5 at No. 2 doubles.
Hicks faced Cavanagh in No. 1 singles and fell, 6-1, 6-2, while Hays was downed by York, 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 2 spot.
Freshman Ben Wade (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) saw his first singles action as he played Izzo to a 7-5 first set at No. 6 singles, but fell 6-3 in the second set.
Heagy was the only other singles participant for the Owls, falling to Lachance, 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 5 slot. The pair also finished their suspended No. 5 match from Monday, with Heagy prevailing, 6-3, 6-4 to give Harford the win over Rhode Island, 6-3.
The Fighting Owls return to action next week, when they take a two-day trip to Virginia, facing Roanoke on Monday, Mar. 23 at 3:00 p.m. and then taking on Ferrum on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
