BRUNSWICK & LEWISTON, Maine – The 27th-ranked Mount Holyoke College squash team shouldered a tough pair of losses on the road Wednesday afternoon. The Lyons fell to 17th-ranked Bowdoin and 18th-ranked Bates by 8-1 margins.

In the opening match against the Polar Bears, senior Annie Wong (Oakland, Calif./The College Preparatory School) picked up the Lyons lone victory, besting Mariela Mendoza in the sixth position. Locked in a 1-1 tie after the first two games, Wong gutted out a pair of 12-10 victories to take the match by an 11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 12-10 margin.

Senior Rose Minichiello (Collinsville, Conn./Canton) also had a strong effort from the seventh position against Zoe Wood. After falling in the opening game, Minichiello battled back for a 13-11 win, but suffered tight losses in the final two games as Wood took the match, 11-3, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8.

Against Bates, first year Ragini Ghose (Dubai/Millfield School) grabbed MHC's point from the third position against Katie Bull. She posted an opening 11-6 win in the first game, going on to an 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 victory.

First year Lessly Portillo (New Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career Magnet) had a dramatic match as well in the fourth position against Molly Brooks. Trailing 1-0, she took the second game by an 11-5 margin, but despite tight scores, was unable to bounce back. She fell by an 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 15-13 score.

The Lyons return to action on Friday when they open the 2016 Pioneer Valley Invitational at home against Wesleyan at 11am. MHC will face Dickinson (8am) and Hamilton (5pm) on Saturday, followed by Haverford (12:30pm) on Sunday. All matches will be played at the Kendall Complex Squash Courts.