SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Haverford College's 43rd-ranked men's squash team opened up the second half of it's 2013-14 schedule Friday at Mount Holyoke College with a pair of losses on the opening day of the Pioneer Valley Invitational. The Fords were downed 9-0 by both No. 24 Connecticut College and No. 26 Colby (Maine) College.

Haverford (1-5) picked up strong matches in the opener against Conn. College (5-7) from Nathan Vestrich-Shade and Bret Marlowe.

Vestrich-Shade picked up an 11-6 win over the Camels' John Sluder in the first match at No. 1. Sluder beat back Vestrich-Shades' upset bid, however, with consecutive wins in the next three matches to capture the point.

At No. 9 Marlowe fell behind with losses in the opening two games but pushed Randy Coplin to the limit in the third before succumbing, 12-10.

Vestrich-Shade gave CJ Smith of Colby (4-3) a battle in the second contest of the day before eventually falling to the Mules' No. 1 player by scores of 11-8, 11-6 and 11-3.

The Fords' John Cummings also put forth a solid effort against the Mules in his match against Ben York at No. 8. York took the opening game quickly (11-3) but Cummings stretched his opponent during the second bout before dropping a 13-11 decision to fall behind 2-0. York was able to complete the sweep with a win in the third game.

Haverford continues its stay in New England with another pair of matches Saturday at the Invitational. The Fords' 9 a.m. match will be against No. 9 Western Ontario University followed by a match-up against 34th-ranked Northeastern University at 11 a.m.