Gophers Break Through Against Greyhounds, Clinch Top Seed

Bergman Rallies for 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 Win, Decisive Point at No. 3

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher prevailed in today's battle of the two teams tied for first place in the Landmark Conference and, as a result of the 5-4 victory over visiting Moravian, the Gophers will be the No. 1 seed in the conference's upcoming postseason tournament.

The Gophers (8-9, 5-0 Landmark) led 2-1 at the conclusion of doubles play thanks to wins at No. 1 by Joan Pulupa (Gaithersburg, Md./Richard Montgomery) and Mara Bergman (Summit, N.J./Summit) and at No. 2 by Meaghan Lee (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill) and Addie Maxwell (Southwest Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island). The Pulupa/Bergman pairing improved to 7-3 this season by turning back Chelsea Ott and Katie Zien, 8-6; Lee and Maxwell defeated Kerry McKinley and Stephanie Cox, 8-5, to go to 9-3.

The Greyhounds (7-6, 4-1 Landmark) took the opening sets in four of the six singles matches and went on to record straight-set wins at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 6. Bergman, however, spoiled their comeback attempt by rallying to knock off Elizabeth Endy 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 at No. 3 to give Goucher its decisive fifth point.

Lee earned a 6-2, 6-2 victory over McKinley at No. 2 to pick up her 10th singles win of 2010-11 and Jacqui Lamer (Pomona, N.Y./Ramapo) secured a critical point for the Gophers by topping Cox 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5.

This was Goucher's first win over Moravian in the sport of women's tennis in six tries since the formation of the Landmark Conference.