Blue Jays Eliminate Gophers from Playoff Contention

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. — A 9-0 defeat to regionally-ranked Elizabethtown eliminated Goucher from Landmark playoff contention this afternoon.

The Gophers (5-7, 1-4 Landmark), who won no more than three games in either of the three doubles matches, were unable to take a set off of the Blue Jays in singles. Elizabethtown (10-3, 4-0 Landmark), which is ranked No. 19 in the Atlantic South by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, ensured a spot in the postseason with its victory and a 7-2 win by Juniata over Susquehanna.

A 6-4, 6-2 defeat for Alice Goldstein-Plesser (Durham, N.C./Durham School of the Arts) at No. 5 singles was the most-competitive match for Goucher on the singles front. Alex Walsh (Greens Farm, Conn./Staples) and Kirsten Cianci (Bolton, Conn./Bolton), meanwhile, dropped an 8-3 decision to Christine Evangelista and Kaitlyn Pellegrino at No. 1 doubles.

The Gophers, as seen in the picture to the right, paid tribute to fallen men's lacrosse player Matt Gabriel during today's match. Gabriel passed away on April 14 last year after being struck by a drunk driver.

Goucher has two more matches remaining in 2015, both of which will come against Landmark opposition on the road. The first of those contests will be a 1 p.m. matchup at Juniata on Saturday.