Walsh Wins Two Matches, Places Third in First Draw

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher players were victorious in seven singles matches and one doubles match during this weekend's Goucher Invitational.

The most successful singles player for the Gophers was Alex Walsh (Greens Farm, Conn./Staples), who competed in the first singles draw. She knocked off Sara Hilderbrand from Frostburg St. 6-1, 6-0 in the opening round, but bowed to Laura Gradiska from Gettysburg 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals. Gradiska went on to claim first place in the draw by pinning a 6-3, 6-3 setback on Sam Koropchak from Richard Stockton in the finals.

In the match to decide the third- and fourth-place finishers in the draw, Walsh was a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Megan Myers from Misericordia.

Kelsey Turner (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Friends) and Emily Ruff (Easton, Md./Easton) also advanced to the smifinals in their draws and both wound up in fourth place. Turner defeated Brittany Dierwechter from Lebanon Valley 7-6 (8), 5-7, 1-0 (10-8) in the first round of the second singles draw; in the third singles bracket, Ruff was matched up against Cornelia Chmil from Misericordia in the opening round and prevailed 0-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9).

Sarah Callander (South Westbrook, Vt./Woodstock Union) and Mackenzie Donohue (Bronx, N.Y./Frank McCourt) combined to win three consolation match in the fourth singles draw. Both of them posted 6-0, 6-0 victories over Melenie Yao from Frostburg St., while Callander also polished off Taylor Dalton from Misericordia 6-3, 6-2.

Claire Donnelly (Frederick, Md./Frederick) and Amber Penaloza (Damascus, Md./Damascus) pulled off the only doubles win for the Gophers during the two-day tournament that included players from Goucher and six other schools. In the first round of the second doubles draw, they topped Kelli Rubin and Erin Sweeney from Gettysburg 6-4, 0-6, 1-0 (10-7).