The Bearcats experienced their first victory against a nationally ranked opponent on Saturday, as Binghamton University’s men’s tennis team continued their impressive play, defeating 53rd-ranked Drake, 5-2, improving their season mark to 5-1.

They continued their strong play, taking two of the day’s three doubles matches, and four of the six singles matches. Freshman Gilbert Wong improved to 20-4, winning at fourth singles, 6-1, 6-3, over Drake’s Ricardo Lau. Wong’s victory put him at 6-0 in duals for the season.

Sophomore Sven Vloedgraven continues to impress picking up wins at the top doubles spot and at second singles. His season record improved to 14-6 overall, and 6-0 in duals.

Drake senior Maor Zirkin, moved closer to the school’s record for all-time wins. He beat Moshe Levy at first singles, 6-2, 6-3, and teamed up with Ricardo Lau at third doubles to defeat Levy and Andreas Danielsson, 8-3. Drake’s other win came from senior Ivan Mendoza who beat freshman Rafael Rodrigues, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 6 singles position.

Saturday’s win is huge for the program and for coach Adam Cohen, last year’s America East Coach of the Year.

“It was a good win for our program, and to beat them 5-2, I can’t help but be proud of our guys,” Cohen said.

Drake’s loss dropped them to 2-5 for the year, a drop-off from last year’s impressive 24-1 campaign in which they captured their third consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championship.

On Sunday, the team took on the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers. After an impressive run that included wins against nationally ranked Drake, Ivy League-contender Cornell and others, the Bearcats ultimately fell to No. 60 Minnesota, 6-1.

The Bearcats’ lone win came at first singles, where Moshe Levy defeated Ishay Hadash, 6-3, 3-6, (10-8). The two battled until a third-set super tiebreaker, which Levy won, 10-8.

The Golden Gophers, who improved to 7-1 by defeating the Bearcats, gave coach Geoff Young his 100th career-match win. Minnesota went on to defeat Drake, improving to 8-1.

At fourth singles Gilbert Wong continued his hot play before falling to Philip Arndt, 6-7, 6-4, (10-4) in the second third-set tiebreaker of the day. Arndt later defeated Drake’s Marsiglia, extending his winning streak to 11.

The past weekend put an exclamation point on an already solid season, but also showed there is room for improvement.

This Friday the team travels to Columbia to take on the 6-2 Lions.