Gophers Advance to Third Straight Landmark Title Tilt, Down Catholic
May 3, 2024
TOWSON, Md. - The Goucher College men's tennis team advanced to the Landmark Conference championship match as the top-seeded Gophers downed No 5 seed Catholic University 5-1 in a Landmark semifinal Friday afternoon at the Schroedl Tennis Center.
- The Gophers (13-8, 9-0 Landmark) led 2-1 after doubles.
- Tadeo Asprella and Unai Laguardia Alvarez picked up the first point of the day with an 8-1 win at No. 3.
- Gabe Naftoly and Calis Nguyen held off their Catholic (14-9) opponents at No.1 for an 8-5 triumph.
- The Cardinals prevailed in a tiebreaker 8-7 (8-6) at No. 2 over Benedikt Rummel and Angel Cerpa.
- Cerpa bounced back with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles to make it 3-1.
- Asprella won 6-4, 6-2 at No. 3.
- Nguyen clinched the match for the Gophers with a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 5.
- Goucher had won the first set in the three unfinished matches.
- Laguardia Alvarez was in a third set with his opponent at No. 1, winning 6-4 before falling 6-2 in the second. The third set was tied 1-1.
- Naftoly won the first set 6-4 at No. 2 and was in a second-set tiebreak when play was halted.
- George King won 6-4 in the first set and led 5-4 in the second.
- Goucher has won six in a row and nine of its last 10.
- The Gophers will be making their third straight Landmark title match appearance and eight appearance in the last nine seasons. Goucher is 5-2 in its previous seven finals appearances, with the last championship coming in 2022.
- Goucher extended its win streak against the Cardinals to 11 straight matches.
- Cerpa won his fifth singles match in a row, while Asprella extended his singles win streak to four.
- Laguardia Alvarez and Asprella have won six in a row in doubles, while Nguyen and Naftoly have won three straight.
- Goucher's 13 wins matches the 2021-22 team.
- Goucher will take on second-seeded Drew in the Landmark championship match on Sunday at 9 am indoors at Hershey Racquet Club in Hershey, Pa.
- The Gophers and Rangers are meeting in the title match for the third straight year, with Goucher winning in 2022 and Drew last season.
- Goucher edged Drew 5-4 in Madison, N.J. back on April 13.