Lim debuts with win as Maple Leafs blank Cardinals 9-0
By Chandler Ingle
Sports Information Intern
YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Goshen College men’s tennis team handled business quickly and efficiently with a 9-0 sweep on Thursday afternoon in their trip across state lines to face non-conference opponent Concordia University, at the Chippewa Tennis Club.
Despite rainy conditions in Michigan, the Maple Leafs (3-2, 2-1 CL) posted near-perfect scores to spoil Concordia’s season opener. The Cardinals (0-1) were shorthanded in the contest and were forced to forfeit their no. 6 singles and no. 3 doubles slots to give Goshen an instant 2-0 lead.
Eric Zuercher got things rolling for the Leafs with his first victory of the season at no. 1 singles. The junior defeated Cardinal top man Alex Koziel by score of 6-1, 6-0. Zuercher also combined with Kartikeya Sharma to take the no. 1 doubles match 8-3. Sharma also added a 6-1, 6-0 victory in his solo performance at the no. 3 slot.
Juan Miguel Ciudad continued his impressive sophomore campaign with a 6-0, 6-0 decision at no. 2 singles to improve to 4-1 on the season. Fellow sophomore and Goshen native Evan Beck, also impressed in his showing at no. 4 singles to the tune of a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Concordia’s A.J. Janssen. The win was Beck’s second of the season.
Freshman Byeong Min Lim, rounded out singles action and added to the day of firsts for GC with his first career victory in as many tries in Goshen purple. The Bethany Christian High School product cruised to a perfect 6-0, 6-0 win at his no. 5 singles slot.
Luke Rush and Lukas Kanther put their similar first names together to bagel Concordia’s Koziel and Ryan Curtis at no. 2 doubles. The win was the third of the season for the freshman-sophomore duo.
“It was great to bounce back today with a confidence-building win,” concluded Goshen director of tennis Evan Atkinson. “I was happy that each of our guys played at a high level and were able to convincingly close out their matches.”
The matchup between the Goshen and Concordia women was cancelled prior to the match due to adverse weather and limited court space.
The Goshen men and women will be back in action this Saturday afternoon against Marian University. The first serve for both matches is set for 1 p.m. at the Goshen College Tennis Complex.
Full Results: Goshen 9, Concordia 0
Singles:
- Eric Zuercher beat Alex Koziel 6-1, 6-0
- Juan Miguel Ciudad beat Jacob Baxter 6-0, 6-0
- Kartikeya Sharma beat Ryan Curtis 6-1, 6-0
- Evan Beck beat A.J. Janssen 6-1, 6-1
- Byeong Min Lim beat Joel Werner 6-0, 6-0
- Goshen by default
Doubles:
- Sharma/Zuercher beat Baxter/Janssen 8-3
- Lukas Kanther/Luke Rush beat Curtis/Koziel 8-0
- Goshen by default
Goshen College is an affordable, nationally-ranked Christian liberal arts college in Northern Indiana known for leadership in intercultural and international education, sustainability and social justice.
The Maple Leafs compete in 13 varsity sports in the NAIA’s highly competitive Crossroads League, continuing a tradition of intercollegiate athletics that dates to 1956 and included women’s competition nearly a decade before Title IX. For more information on GC athletics, visit www.GoLeafs.net and follow the Maple Leafs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @GCMapleLeafs.