Box Score Results

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Drew University men's tennis team was edged by the slimmest of margins in the Landmark Conference final, as top-seeded Goucher College topped the Rangers 4-3 on Saturday inside the Central PA Tennis Center.
 
Despite the loss, the Rangers ended the year with a stirring postseason run. Entering the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, Drew blanked No. 6 Juniata 4-0 in the opening round before tossing another shutout at No. 2-seeded Catholic in the semifinals, avenging a regular-season loss to the Cardinals.
 
In Saturday's final, the Rangers faced a Goucher team that had won 7-0 when the two sides met in Towson back on March 29. However, it was an entirely different scene this time around.
 
With the match tied 3-3 and only No. 1 singles left to play, Goucher's Gabe Naftoly prevailed in a back-and-forth, nailbiter of a match that included a pair of tiebreakers.
 
After Naftoly captured a 7-6 (7-1) victory in the opening set, junior Jesse Faro pulled even for the Rangers, winning 6-1. However, Naftoly clinched the match with a 7-6 (7-3) win in the final set, handing the Gophers won their second consecutive conference title.
 
Goucher opened the match by winning the doubles point by virtue of their victories at the top two positions, winning 6-1 at No. 1 and 6-2 at No. 2. Sophomore Ty Gelijns and senior Josh Kline earned a 6-3 victory at No. 3 doubles.
 
The two sides went on to split the six singles matches. The Gophers won at No. 4 before freshman Dikshan Chhikara captured a 6-3, 6-2 victory at the No. 3 spot, making it 2-1.
 
The next three matches finished in quick succession, but junior Shivi Perera tied the match for Drew with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 5 before Goucher went in front 3-2 with a 7-5, 6-1 win at second singles.
 
Kline helped keep Drew's championship hopes alive with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles, tying the match again and setting up a thrilling finish.
 
The Rangers closed out the season with a 12-9 record and have now reached the final of the conference championship in five consecutive seasons while facing Goucher in the last four finals.