Box Score

Purchase, NY (April 30, 2016) – You would be hard pressed to find a better way to celebrate a Senior Day than the way the men's tennis team did Saturday at home.

The Panthers honored seniors Matthew McCarthy (SR/Fayetteville, NY) and Joseph Troop (SR/Yonkers, NY) in not only an 8-1 victory over St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn, but one that punched the program's return ticket back to the Skyline Conference semifinals. The Panthers, who fell to Farmingdale State last spring in the semis, will now get another crack at the league's Final Four Wednesday night, opening the conference tourney as the fourth and final seed. Purchase draws top-seeded Yeshiva University (Match location and time TBA). 

The upperclass duo, along with SJC-BKLYN's three seniors (Kyle Johnson, Carlos Mayorga and Nolan Parr) were recognized in a pre-match ceremony MCed by Sports Information Director Bobby Ciafardini.

Troop and McCarthy then received certificates of appreciation from the SID office, along with senior gifts from the coaching staff. The two were also previously honored at the program's annual awards banquet, which Wednesday, April 27th.

Head coach Peter Nestel and assistant Susan Kaminsky gave the two seniors new royal blue Adidas hats with messages from them and the team under the brim. Both seniors wore them for the match.

"Our first senior joined the program this season," Ciafardini said of McCarthy. "He's a two-sport athlete and was named the Most Valuable Player of our men's volleyball team during our annual awards banquet Wednesday night. He's 1-0 at doubles and has seen some action lately in exhibition singles. A great teammate, student-athlete and student-worker, a big hand for senior Matt McCarthy."  

Ciafardini then introduced Troop. "Our final senior joined the team last year as a transfer and helped our program reach the Skyline semifinals be carving out one tremendous first campaign. Joseph troop, also a two-sport athlete, who excels on the golf team, went 7-3 at No. 3 singles in 2015, picking up eight wins in doubles action en route to an All-Skyline 2nd Team selection. This year, he moved up to No. 2 singles and has teamed at No. 1 doubles for another strong campaign. Troop is 8-6 in singles and 11-3 in doubles. A fine teammate, student-athlete, let's hear it for Joe Troop."  

The senior festivities included a heartfelt speech from coach Nestel and set the tone for the remainder of the afternoon.

Troop celebrated his final home match with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles. He bested Kevin Caicedo. Earlier, he teamed with Riley Damerell (JR/Rochester, NY) for a perfect 9-0 victory at first doubles. Damerell also won his singles match, 6-3, 6-0.

The match of the day belonged to McCarthy, who jumped into the starting lineup on Senior Day and won at No. 6 singles in the super tiebreaker: 7-5, 5-7, 11-9.

McCarthy, who also teamed with rookie Finbar Stuart (FR/Woodstock, NY) in doubles, completed his senior sweep in the 8-0 doubles win (No. 3). His singles match was the second to last to be completed, as the his teammates looked on, chanting "MATTY ICE!!" following his clutch points.

Meanwhile, Stuart navigated around some early trouble in singles, clinching a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 5. Danny De La Cruz (JR/Bronx, NY) was impressive in singles as well, securing a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. De La Cruz topped Johnson.

SJC-BKLYN earned its lone win at No. 4 singles. Mayorga outlasted Noah Marthaller (SO/Canadaigua, NY) in the super tiebreaker.

Purchase started strong by sweeping the three doubles matches, including No. 2, which saw De La Cruz and Brian Doherty (FR/Mattituck, NY) post an 8-4 win.