DANBURY, Conn. — Axel Javier (Danbury, Conn.) and Alex Maldonado (Danbury, Conn.) narrowed the deficit to one point after winning in  No. 6 and 4 Singles, respectively, but the Western Connecticut State University men's tennis team dropped a tough, 5-2, match against Bard College at the Westside Tennis Courts on Tuesday. The Wolves moved to 2-8, while Bard improved to 5-5 overall.

In Doubles action, partners Aidan Burke (Wilton, Conn.) and John Araujo (Bethel, Conn.) nabbed the first victory for WestConn with a 6-4 win at No. 2, but it wasn't enough as Bard won at No. 1 and No. 3 to take the Doubles point. 

In Singles —needing four courts for the win — Bard struck first after beating Jack Buck (New Fairfield, Conn.) at No. 3 in a straight-set win. At No. 6 in solo action, Javier came back from a 1-4 deficit in the second set and won in straight sets (6-1, 6-4) to even the Singles points to one apiece.

Bard then took a 3-1 lead after winning No. 2 singles over Jose Zambrano (Danbury, Conn.). WestConn won the next court at No. 4 Singles as Maldonado came back and won in three sets after dropping his first set in an impressive 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 triumph.

With the score 3-2 in favor of the visitors, WestConn needed the final two courts to secure the victory. Burke at No. 1 Singles was leading 4-2 in the second set, while Araujo at No. 5 had just knotted the second set at 5-5 after being down 2-5.  Unfortunately, Burke was unable to force a third set, dropping the match, which clinched Bard's win. Moments later, Araujo lost the second set and the match.

The Wolves travel to Mount Saint Mary College (NY) on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. match.

"We knew today was going to be a tough matchup, and the conditions were difficult for everyone with the cold and wind," head coach Shawn Stillman noted. "The score doesn't reflect how close the match was. We came back from behind on most of the singles courts and won two of them."