Gophers Alone on Top of Landmark Conference Standings

Ruff and Turner Overcome 7-5 Hole to Win 9-7

TOWSON, Md. -- Goucher won each of the first seven matches today, defeating previously undefeated in-conference Catholic to lay claim to sole possession of first place.

Goucher (10-3, 4-0 Landmark) raced out to an early lead by sweeping the three closely contested doubles matches, winning the first four singles matches on its way to a 7-2 win.

Ariel Lin (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) and Meaghan Lee (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill) defeated Margie Selinger and Elizabeth Harvey by a score of 8-5 to move to 11-2 on the year at top doubles.

After falling behind early, Alex Walsh (Greens Farm, Conn./Staples) and Addie Maxwell (Southwest Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island) rallied to earn an 8-6 victory over Ritamarie Holden and Caitlin Porter at second doubles.

At No. 3, Emily Ruff (Easton, Md./Easton) and Kelsey Turner (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Friends) needed to win the final four games of their match to overcome a 7-5 deficit, and did so to complete the doubles sweep.

Maxwell topped Elaina Sceusa 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, putting the Gophers one point away from victory when Walsh completed a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Holden to clinch the Goucher win.

With the result decided, Lin and Lee each headed into super tie-breakers to complete their matches, instead of heading to a third set.

Lin dispatched of Selinger 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4) to claim the win at top singles. Lee took care of Harvey 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4) at No. 2.

Catholic (11-3, 3-1 Landmark) received wins from Porter and Emma Needham in the day's final two matches.

Goucher can clinch the top overall seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs with a win against either Scranton or Susquehanna in its final two matches.

In 2010-11, the Gophers finished 5-0 in conference play to earn the top seed. Since the formation of the Landmark Conference only one other team (Moravian) has earned the top seed more than once.