WEST WINDSOR, NJ – St. Francis Brooklyn men's tennis capped off its incredible run in the 2023 Northeast Conference tournament, defeating FDU by a score of 4-2 to win the NEC Championship for the first time in program history. Graduate student Luis Foix Sotos, the tournament MVP, captured the victory with his singles victory.
"We are Brooklyn Tough," head coach Chad Davis said. "Words cannot describe this moment and what it means to us. We've had so many obstacles and difficulties this year and this is sweet. It's an incredible feeling."
The Terriers won two doubles matches with ease to grab the first point of the contest. Assil Boussayri and Habib Stambouli coasted to a 6-1 win and Lucas Foix Sotos and Matheus Paiva won 6-2 to get the team off on the right foot.
From there, the two sides would battle back-and-forth as momentum swayed by the minute. All three singles victories were in three sets as the Terriers won the first and third frames in each bout.
Leon Harder grabbed the first singles point, dominating the third set 6-0 to get the Terriers to their second point. Then in #1 singles, Jan Godfrey Seno rallied to a 6-3 win in the third set after falling 6-1 in the second.
Two matches remained in action as St. Francis Brooklyn needed to win just one for the title. Luis Foix Sotos was ahead in his match and despite losing his serve, put it away in the next game. A double fault was the final bow on the victory and the team mobbed Foix Sotos on the court following the victory.
Three players were named to the All-Tournament team in Harder, Foix Sotos and Seno. Foix Sotos was named Tournament MVP.
Full Results
Doubles
Assil Boussayri/Habib Stambouli (SFC) def. Justas Trainauskas/Thomas Linley (FDU), 6-1
Jan Godfrey Seno/Luis Foix Sotos (SFC) vs. Mehdi Dhouib/Younes Adnane (SFC), 1-4 – unfinished
Lucas Foix Sotos/Matheus Paiva (SFC) def. Gryffin Minor/Teodors Pukse (FDU), 6-2
Singles
Jan Godfrey Seno (SFC) def. Justas Trainauskas (FDU), 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Assil Boussayri (SFC) vs. Mehdi Dhouib (FDU), 1-6, 7-6, 1-4 – unfinished
Teodors Pukse (FDU) def. Habib Stambouli (SFC), 6-2, 5-0 – retired
Arjun Sriram (FDU) def. Lucas Deliano (SFC), 6-2, 4-0 – retired
Leon Harder (SFC) def. Gryffin Minor (FDU), 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
Luis Foix Sotos (SFC) def. Younes Adnane (FDU), 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
