Gophers Come Away with Split Against In-State Rivals

7-1 Win Features Five Straight-Set Singles Victories

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher took on a pair of non-conference opponents at separate locations today. The Gophers opened up against Salisbury at McDonogh School, located in Owings Mills, Md., and then returned to campus to battle Frostburg St.

The Gophers managed a split against the two in-state Division III rivals as they bowed to the Sea Gulls, 9-0, but came back to knock off the Bobcats, 7-1.

In the victory over Frostburg St., Goucher led 2-1 at the conclusion of doubles play and then added on five wins in singles play, all in straight sets. Seth Hoesman (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) prevailed at No. 1 singles, earning a 6-0, 6-4 triumph over Kenneth Alban; at No. 2, David Spivey (Cockeysville, Md./The Park School) defeated Arun Pant 6-1, 6-2.

Pat Murnin (Salt Lake City, Utah/East) was at No. 3 in Goucher's singles lineup and he disposed of John Glencoe 6-4, 6-2. At No. 4, John Bescoby (San Marino, Calif./Maranatha) turned back Corey Shives 6-3, 6-3, and Seth Manfield (Bethesda, Md./Emerson Prep) was a 6-0, 6-3 winner over Christian Ernst at No. 5.

The No. 6 singles match between Goucher's Cody Nelson (Duanesburg, N.Y./Schalmont) and Frostburg's Daniel Guy was in the second set when play was halted due to darkness.

Between them, the top two doubles pairings for the Gophers (3-8) dropped only one set. Hoesman and Besbody combined for an 8-0 win over Alban and Pant at No. 1 and Murnin and Spivey cruised past Paul Rooke and Ernst, 8-1, at No. 2.

The Bobcats (0-9) earned their only point at No. 3 doubles.

Hoesman and Spivey both put up stiff challenges to Salisbury's top two singles players. Hoesman dropped his match at No. 1 to Daniel Albers 6-4, 7-5, and Spivey was beaten at No. 2 by Demetri Vrahnos 6-4, 6-4.

An 8-1 win by Albers and Eric Spangler over Hoesman and Spivey at No. 1 got the Sea Gulls (6-6) started on the way to a sweep of the three doubles matches.