Gophers Obtain First Landmark Victory Over Rangers

BALTIMORE, Md. — Goucher can cross Drew off the list of Landmark Conference opponents which it hasn't beaten since the conference begin intercollegiate competition in 2007-08 after the Gophers took down the Rangers in convincing fashion, 8-1, tonight at the Bare Hills Racquet & Fitness Club.

The Gophers (6-4, 1-0 Landmark) didn't run into a great deal of resistence in doubles play. At No. 1, Joey Caracappa (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Saddlebrook Preparatory School) and Seth Hoesman (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) won for the 10th time as a doubles team this season by polishing off Tommy Butschi and Adam Clark, 8-3; at No. 2, Jack Hodges (London, England/Shrewsbury School) and Midori Fujitani (Tokyo, Japan/International School Bangkok) registered an 8-2 victory over Scott Vander Veen and Sal Sclafani.

Britt Shortle (Lake Mary, Fla./Trinity Preparatory School) and Pat Murnin (Salt Lake City, Utah/East) were 8-4 winners over Jonnie Singleton and Olle Verschoof at No. 3.

Hoesman earned the point which clinched the overall match for the Gophers with his 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Clark at No. 1 singles. Hodges, who was stationed at No. 2 in Goucher's singles line-up, pinned a 6-4, 6-3 setback on Butschi, and Caracappa defeated Vander Veen 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3.

Straight-set wins by Fujitani at No. 4 and Josh Goldberg (Centreville, Md./Queen Anne's County) at No. 6 provided head coach Brendan Kincaid's squad with an 8-0 lead, but the Rangers (3-2, 0-1 Landmark) broke through at No. 5, earning their lone point thanks to Sal Sclafani's 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory over Shortle.

This was the first of three Landmark Conference matches for the Gophers this weekend. On Sunday, they'll host the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, starting at 10 a.m., and once that match is completed, will travel to Selinsgrove, Pa. to battle Susquehanna.