Greenwich Panthers Defeat Defending Champion Philadelphia Lightning 3-1 to Reach NSL Finals

The Greenwich Panthers are headed to the 2026 National Squash League Finals after knocking off defending champion Philadelphia Lightning 3-1 in a hard-fought semifinal at MSquash in South Norwalk, Connecticut.

The Panthers struck first in a tightly contested opening period, edging Philadelphia 21-20 behind a strong start from Mostafa Asal. The narrow victory gave Greenwich an early advantage and set the tone for a match that would remain competitive throughout the evening.

Philadelphia responded in the second period, with Marwan ElShorbagy leading the charge. The Lightning captured the frame 26-19 to level the match at one game apiece heading into the decisive third period.

With two games on the line in the final frame, Greenwich delivered its best squash of the night. Asal took over the match, scoring 28 points in the third period alone and finishing with a match-high 50 points. His relentless attacking play helped the Panthers secure the period 36-34 and claim the two-game bonus that turned a deadlocked match into a 3-1 victory.

Dimitri Steinmann added 11 points while Greg Marche contributed 15 as Greenwich showcased the depth needed to overcome the defending champions. The Panthers were particularly effective in key moments, converting 13 power-play points and consistently finding answers to Philadelphia’s rallies.

The Lightning received another stellar performance from ElShorbagy, who totaled 47 points, while Nathan Lake added 17 and Nick Wall chipped in 16. Despite outscoring Greenwich 80-76 overall, Philadelphia was unable to secure enough periods to extend its title defense.

By winning the first and third periods, Greenwich earned the games necessary to advance and completed one of the biggest victories of the season.

The Panthers will now face the Chicago Grizzlies in the 2026 NSL Finals, with the championship on the line. Watch the Greenwich Panthers and Chicago Grizzlies live on the NSL YouTube page at 8:15 tonight.