BACK ON TOP: Men's Tennis Edges Top-Seeded Drew for Landmark Title
May 8, 2022
MADISON, N.J. - Goucher College men's tennis first year Jackson Beam (Knightdale, N.C./Knightdale) prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 at No. 6 singles to clinch the match as the second-seeded Gophers upended No. 1 seed Drew University 5-4 to capture the 2022 Landmark Conference Men's Tennis Championship Sunday afternoon indoors at Simon Forum. The Gophers earn the Landmark's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship.
- Goucher (12-7) took a 2-1 lead by prevailing in two of three tightly-contested doubles matches against the Rangers (18-4).
- Beam and Calis Nguyen (Houston, Texas/School of the Woods) won 8-7 (7-3) at No. 2.
- At No. 3 Angel Cerpa (El Paso, Texas/Americas) and Joshua Noel (Ennis, Texas/Ennis) prevailed 8-7 (7-5).
- Drew picked up its doubles point with a 8-6 win over Omosesan Adebamgbe (Philadelphia, Pa./Lower Merion) and Brian Kane (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends Select).
- Drew claimed the first two singles points to go up 3-2.
- Noel dropped a 7-6, 6-1 decision at No. 4, while at No. 1 Kane fell 6-4, 6-0.
- Adebamgbe tied things back up 3-3 at he registered a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 win at No. 2.
- The Rangers pulled back in front at No. 4 as Cerpa dropped a 1-6, 6-0, 7-5 decision.
- Cerpa led in the third set 5-4 but fighting through an injury dropped the third set.
- At No. 5, Nguyen dropped his first set 6-3 before rallying for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory.
- Beam won the first set of his match 7-5 before dropping the second set 6-4.
- In the third, he prevailed 6-3 to clinch the match.
- Goucher won its fifth Landmark Conference title in six seasons. The Gophers won four straight from 2016-19 and reached the semifinals last season. The championship was not contested in 2020.
- With the win, the Gophers earned their fifth NCAA trip in program history.
- The Gophers avenged a 5-4 loss to Drew on April 23. The singles and doubles results in that match were the same except for Cerpa and Noel able to flip to a win on Sunday.
- Beam, the tournament MVP, won his sixth straight singles match.
- Nguyen extended his singles win streak to 12 matches.
- In doubles Beam and Nguyen won their seventh straight, while Cerpa and Noel won their fourth in a row.
- Goucher has won four in a row and nine of its last 11 matches.
MTEN | Landmark tournament MVP Jackson Beam clinches the match with a 6-3 three-set win at No. 6 singles! #d3tennis #GopherGreatness pic.twitter.com/BrLRX7F4Ge
— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) May 8, 2022
- Goucher will learn its next opponent on Monday as the NCAA releases the field for the 44-team NCAA Men's Tennis Championship.
- The bracket will be posted on NCAA.com by noon Eastern on Monday.
Photos courtesy Drew Athletic Communications
Landmark Tournament MVP Jackson Beam (left) with head coach Clay Allen.