Third Set Thriller Leads Gophers to Win Against Cardinals in Conference Semifinals
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Goucher College Gophers (13-6 overall, 8-2 conference) traveled to take on the number two-seeded Catholic University of America Cardinals (14-8 overall, 8-1 conference) in the semifinals of the Landmark Conference playoffs. The Gophers clinched the victory, winning 4-2.
The match started with the Gophers securing the doubles point. The No. 1 doubles pair of Gabe Naftoly and Benedikt Rummel swept their doubles match, winning 6-0. No. 3 doubles team, Guilherme Moraes and George King, clinched the doubles point for the Gophers, adding a 6-4 victory. The No. 2 team of Tadeo Asprella and Ian Hewes was down 5-4, but the match remained unfinished due to Goucher earning the point.
The first to finish singles play was Rummel. He won the first set 6-2 and the second set 6-3, to win the No. 3 matchup. Next to finish was Asprella in No. 2 singles, taking down his opponent 6-1, 6-3. The Cardinals used two key points to rally back, with King losing the No. 6 singles match 6-4, 6-2, and Moraes finishing the No. 4 singles, dropping the first set 6-2 but fighting back to win the second set 7-6(7-4). Moraes lost in the tiebreaker 6-4. This brought the overall score to 3-2, with the remaining matches in third sets.
After a back-and-forth No. 1 singles match, Naftoly was victorious, clinching the win for the Gophers. He won the first set 6-4, then lost the second set 6-4. The third set went to a tiebreaker after the sets were tied. Naftoly pulled out the win, earning the final two points to bring the third set 7-6(8-6). This gave the team the fourth point to clinch the victory. Due to the final point finishing on court one, Hewes did not finish his match at the No. 5 singles. He won his first set 7-5 but lost the second set 7-5. His third set stopped with him holding the advantage, 5-4.
The Gophers play next in the Landmark Conference Championship on Sunday, May 3rd, against Moravian at 1pm. The contest will be held at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania for a neutral site championship.
