After a 3-0 start this season, Binghamton University’s men’s tennis team suffered their first defeat on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bearcats, who began the season by defeating Villanova, UNC Greensboro and Dartmouth, could not continue their success against host Cornell University.

Cornell University was 0-1 coming into Wednesday’s match. Cornell won the doubles point by securing all three matches. This dominating performance was followed by winning four of six in the singles matches, giving them a 5-2 victory.

“It wasn’t that we weren’t playing hard; we definitely played hard and competed,” said BU head coach Adam Cohen. “We just didn’t convert on a few breakpoints and our inability to convert in those crucial points can be the difference in the game.”

“We played a very tough team in Cornell, and when you don’t convert breakpoints, you have a tough time winning,” said Cohen.

International recruits Alexandre Haggai and Rafael Rodrigues, who were previously successful in their games, were both defeated in straight sets.

Freshman Gilbert Wong was one of the few bright spots for the Bearcats, winning his singles match in straight sets. Wong has improved his record to 18-4 for the season. Also securing a straight set victory was sophomore Sven Vloedgraven, as the second singles representative from Binghamton University.

“[Wong] has come a long way, to go out there and beat a player that he previously lost to in straight sets speaks volumes about his progression,” Cohen said.

Binghamton was 0-3 in doubles matches in this game and Cohen acknowledged that.

“There is always room for improvement, especially in doubles and even down the line in singles,” he said.

The Bearcats head to Ithaca to face Buffalo at the Reis Tennis Center tomorrow at noon.