Gophers Race Past Greyhounds in Landmark Semifinal
April 25, 2023
TOWSON, Md. - Second-seeded Goucher College staked itself to a 2-1 lead after doubles and captured the first three singles points to down No. 3 seed Moravian University 5-1 in the semifinals of the 2023 Landmark Conference Men's Tennis Championship Tuesday afternoon at Schroedl Tennis Center. The Gophers advance to the Landmark title match for the seventh time in eight seasons, where they will face Drew in a rematch of last season's final.
- Goucher (8-9, 6-1 Landmark) earned wins over Moravian (16-5) at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.
- Jackson Beam (Knightdale, N.C./Knightdale) and Calis Nguyen (Houston, Texas/School of the Woods) were 8-3 winners at No. 1.
- Angel Cerpa (El Paso, Texas/Americas) and Tadeo Asprella (La Plata, Argentina / Instituto Jose Manuel Estrada) also prevailed 8-3 at No. 2.
- At No. 3 Gabe Naftoly (Newburyport, Mass./Berwick Academy) and Theo Lucke (Ahlen, Germany / Städtisches Gymnasium Ahlen) ralled from 5-2 down before falling in a tiebreak 7-4.
- Asprella made quick work of his opponent at No. 4 with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.
- Nguyen posted a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2 to put the Gophers up 4-1.
- Lucke clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 6.
- Beam led 6-4, 5-1 in the second set when the match was halted.
- Cerpa and Naftoly each went to first-set tiebreaks in their matches, with Naftoly winning 7-2 and Cerpa falling 7-2.
- Goucher is 7-2 over its last nine matches.
- The Gophers will be seeking their sixth Landmark title in seven seasons on Saturday. Goucher won four straight from 2016-19 and downed Drew 5-4 on the road last season.
- Asprella moved to 14-3 in singles play on the season while in doubles he and Cerpa moved to 10-7 on the season.
- Drew was a 5-0 winner over fourth-seeded Scranton in Tuesday's other semifinal.
- Saturday's championship match at Drew will be played at a time to be determined.