Providence, R.I.—No. 2-seeded Western Connecticut came back from a 4-2 deficit to defeat No. 1-seeded Rhode Island College, 5-4, in the finals of the 2021 Little East Men's Tournament played at the RIC Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Western Connecticut 5, Rhode Island College 4
Rhode Island College (6-1)
Western Connecticut (6-2)
 
• WestConn moves on to the 2021 NCAA Div. III Men's Tennis Championship.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
DOUBLES
• Western Connecticut freshman Mitchell Kindred (New Fairfield, Conn.) and senior Will Hogan (Ridgefield, Conn.) defeated RIC sophomore Michael Crawley (Manville, R.I.) and freshman Josh Brien (Johnston, R.I.), 8-2, No. 3 doubles to open the day's action.
 
• RIC sophomore Max Blais (Smithfield, R.I.) and senior Ethan Hoy (West Warwick, R.I.) defeated WestConn sophomore Sebastian Frisch (Redding, Conn.) and junior Jay Kilcourse (New Fairfield, Conn.), 8-7 (7-3), at No. 2 doubles to tie the match, 1-1.
 
• WestConn seniors Aaron Campos (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Matt Carino (Sandy Hook, Conn.) built a 6-0 lead at No. 1 doubles against RIC junior Alex Bourque (North Smithfield, R.I.) and senior Michael Shea (Greenville, R.I.), only to see the Anchormen tandem go on a 6-1 run to close within a game, 7-6. Campos and Carino then won the decisive game to earn the victory, 8-6, and send the visitors into singles action with a one point, 2-1, advantage.
 
SINGLES
• RIC won three straight singles matches at the bottom of the lineup to take a 4-2 lead.
 
• Shea defeated Kindred (6-1, 6-1) at No. 6 singles.
 
• Hoy bested Frisch (6-4, 6-1) at No. 4 singles.
 
• Freshman Jack Cadden (Mattapoisett, Mass.) picked up a win (6-3, 7-5) vs. Kilcourse at No. 5 singles.
 
• Campos started the comeback and beat Bourque (6-3, 6-1) at No. 1 singles.
 
• Carino lost the first set, then won the next two vs. Crawley (4-6, 6-3, 6-2) at No. 3 singles for tie the match at four apiece.
 
• Hogan then defeated Blais (7-5, 4-6, 6-3) at No. 2 singles to clinch the title for the visitors.