Gophers Defeat Crusaders for First Time Since 2008-09

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Goucher earned its first victory over Susquehanna since the 2008-09 season today, winning all three doubles matches and four of the six singles matches to pin a 7-2 setback on the Crusaders.

The combination of the win over Susquehanna and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's loss to Scranton this afternoon left head coach Brendan Kincaid's squad in sole possession of sixth place in the Landmark Conference.

The Gophers (6-11, 2-4 Landmark) dropped only six games during the doubles competition. Their No. 1 pairing of Seth Hoesman (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) and David Spivey (Cockeysville, Md./The Park School) made quick work of Jeremy Neville and Ryan Van Valin, 8-1; by that same score, Midori Fujitani (Tokyo, Japan/International School Bangkok) and John Bescoby (San Marino, Calif./Maranatha) were victorious at No. 2 over Long Hoang and Tyler Haussner.

At No. 3 doubles, Pat Murnin (Salt Lake City, Utah/East) and William Felinski (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Academy) defeated Andrew Parrish and Blake Zafirson, 8-4.

Spivey's 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Van Valin at second singles put Goucher up 4-0 and Murnin picked up the point to clinch the overall win by turning back Parrish 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5.

Hoesman ran into Neville again at No. 1 and recorded a 6-4, 6-1 victory, raising his record in singles play this season to 12-8. He remains one win behind Fujitani, who improved to 13-6 by knocking off Hoang 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3.

The Crusaders (3-13, 0-6 Landmark) prevailed at No. 4 and No. 6 singles.

The Gophers are all that stands in the way of Juniata finishing undefeated in Landmark Conference action in 2013-14 and they'll get an opportunity to bump off the Eagles when they pay a visit here this coming Thursday. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.