Kanther, Sharma, Weerasinghe have yet to drop individual matches
GRANGER, Ind. — A quartet of double winners powered Goshen College into a tie for the Crossroads League men’s tennis lead on Saturday with an 8-1 win over Bethel College at Knollwood Country Club.
The Maple Leafs (2-0, 2-0) won five singles matches in straight sets to seal the match before doubles play even began—due to court availability at the facility, men’s singles started the match while the women played doubles.
Evan Beck claimed his first win of the season with a 6-0, 6-4 victory at no. 6, one of three players to drop exactly four games in their win. Aritha Weerasinghe, Lukas Kanther and Kartikeya Sharma each won their third singles match in as many tries this season. Neither Kanther nor Sharma have lost in singles or doubles since the Judson match last Saturday and carries a five-match win streak into Labor Day weekend.
Bethel’s lone triumph of the afternoon came at the top singles spot, where Jacob Macri edged Eric Zuercher 10-7 in a super tiebreak after splitting sets. Zuercher would rebound for his first win of the fall alongside Sharma in doubles, however, claiming an 8-6 win to raise the team’s doubles record to 5-4.
Kanther and Luke Rush paired for an 8-4 win at second doubles while Ciudad and Weerasinghe started things off with an 8-3 win at the lowest rung.
“The men played a strong match,” said Goshen director of tennis Evan Atkinson. “It was great for us to clinch the match during singles to give us confidence to play freely during doubles. Getting the doubles points continues to be emphasized for our success.”
In Atkinson’s 16 matches as head coach, the team which has won the doubles portion of the match is 16-0.
Goshen moves into a four-way tie atop the conference standings, keeping pace with Indiana Wesleyan, Spring Arbor and Taylor. That quartet is guaranteed to shrink to at least a trio after Tuesday, when GC hosts IWU at 4 p.m.
Full Results: Goshen 8, Bethel 1
Singles
1. Jacob Macri (B) beat Eric Zuercher 6-4, 3-6, (10-7)
2. Juan Miguel Ciudad (G) beat Evan Ferguson 6-2, 6-2
3. Kartikeya Sharma (G) beat Sid Peterson 6-3, 6-1
4. Aritha Weerasinghe (G) beat Jose Morales 6-2, 6-4
5. Lukas Kanther (G) beat Brian Shembarger 6-4, 6-1
6. Evan Beck (G) beat Chad Van Dosen 6-0, 6-4
Doubles
1. Sharma/Zuercher (G) beat Macri/Morales 8-6
2. Kanther/Luke Rush (G) beat Ferguson/Peterson 8-4
3. Ciudad/Weerasinghe (G) beat Shembarger/Van Dosen 8-3
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.
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