POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - In their season-opener the Marist men's swimming and diving team fell to Hudson Valley rival Army by a score of 165.5-128.5 at the McCann Natatorium Friday afternoon. Sophomore Nick Spinella (Franklin Square, N.Y.) and freshman Jason Ruddy (Lake Katrine, N.Y.) led the squad with two wins a piece.

Spinella, a 2011 MAAC backstroke champion picked up where he left off last season as he took victories in both the 100- and 200-yd backstroke events. In the eighth event of the afternoon meet, the 100-yd backstroke, Spinella won in dominate fashion with a time of 52.91, 1.11 seconds clear of his teammate and second place finisher freshman Dylan Cummings (Midland Park, N.J.). In the 200-yd backstroke he won with a time of 1:54.51, 2.48 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.

In his collegiate debut, Ruddy came away with two wins of his own. In his first individual event, the 200-yd butterfly, Ruddy captured the win with a time of 1:54.58. In event 26, the 100-yd butterfly, the freshman won a close race with Army's Michael Dustin by .13 with a time of 52.39.

Freshman Bill Drennen (Collegeville, Pa.) also had a strong debut as he earned second place finishes in the 200- and 500-yd freestyle races. In the 200 he finished with a time of 1:48.34, while he lost a closely contested 500-yd race with a time of 4:48.95, just .07 seconds shy of Army's Casey Woudenberg.

In diving action, freshman Jacob Baker (Shavertown, Pa.) earned a third place finish in the 1-meter board with a score of 202.42, while sophomore Sean Molloy (Slingerlands, N.Y.) was the top finishing Red Fox in the 3-meter board with a fourth place finish of 217.05.   

The Red Foxes will return to action next Thursday, October 20 in a 7 p.m. meet versus Fordham.