Gulls Sneak by Scots in Rivalry Match

WENHAM, Mass.— Endicott Men's Tennis took a pair of swing matches in its favor to end Gordon's nine-match win streak, 5-4. The Scots entered the day as the final unbeaten team in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, but the Gulls took the important 2-1 lead after doubles and held on for the narrow win.

The Fighting Scots drop to 13-3 on the season and 4-1 in the conference. Endicott improves to 9-6 and is also 4-1 in the CCC.

Endicott took a 1-0 lead with an 8-6 win at third doubles by Sean McAndrews (Vineyard Haven,
Mass.) and Nicholas Eherts (New Milford, Conn.). The Fighting Scots tied the match only moments later when Zach Hall (Sugar Land, Texas) and Mason Casady (Santa Barbara, Calif.) survived their match at first doubles, 8-6.

The match potentially hinged on the result at second doubles and Gordon's No. 2 duo held the lead on serve for the majority of the match. The Gulls ended up forcing a tiebreaker at 8-8 before Eric Pierce (Barrington, R.I.) and Keaton McCleary (Newtown, Conn.) found enough to get by Nathan Lookwhy (Westborough, Mass.) and Peter Godwin (Manchester, Conn.), 9-8 (7-2).

The Gulls brought the match within a point of decision with two straight-set results at fifth and sixth singles. Eherts controlled Godwin at five, while McCleary fought off Joe Daugherty (Norfolk, Va.) in the second set to win 6-0, 6-3.

Gordon stormed all the way back to tie the match with three positive results in a row.

Casady posted two 6-2 set victories to cruise by Michael Dolph (Stratford, Conn.) at the second singles spot. Hall fought off a tiebreaker in the first set and blanked sophomore Chris Kirkpatrick (Newburyport, Mass.) to make it a 4-3 match. Michael D'Antuono (Mapleville, R.I.) brought the Scots back to even with a gritty 6-2, 7-5 win at fourth singles over McAndrews.

Pierce and Lookwhy found themselves deadlocked in a tight match at third singles. In both sets, Pierce jumped out to the early 4-1 advantage only for Lookwhy to battle back to being on serve. However, Pierce won a few key points at the end of each set to take the match with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph over the Gordon freshman.

Both teams remain in the meat of the conference schedule as Endicott has a quick turnaround before hosting Roger Williams tomorrow. Gordon has a day off before Salve Regina makes the trip to Wenham for a 4 p.m. start.


Endicott 5, Gordon 4
04/18/16 at Wenham, Mass. (Brigham Tennis Courts) 

Singles competition

1. Zach Hall (GC) def. Chris Kirkpatrick (EC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0

2. Mason Casady (GC) def. Michael Dolph (EC) 6-2, 6-2

3. Eric Pierce (EC) def. Nate Lookwhy (GC) 7-5, 6-4

4. Mike D'Antuono (GC) def. Sean McAndrews (EC) 6-2, 7-5

5. Nicholas Eherts (EC) def. Peter Godwin (GC) 6-2, 6-0

6. Keaton McCleary (EC) def. Joe Daugherty (GC) 6-0, 6-3

 

Doubles competition

1. Zach Hall/Mason Casady (GC) def. Chris Kirkpatrick/Michael Dolph (EC) 8-6

2. Eric Pierce/Keaton McCleary (EC) def. Nate Lookwhy/Peter Godwin (GC) 9-8 (7-2)

3. Sean McAndrews/Nicholas Eherts (EC) def. Mike D'Antuono/Joe Daugherty (GC) 8-6

 

Match Notes

Endicott 9-6 (4-1 CCC)

Gordon 13-3 (4-1 CCC)

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,2,1,4,3)

Official: David Keene T-3:00 A-45