Merrimack Ends Stonehill
Streak, 5-4
Warriors remain unbeaten in
NE-10 play, end Skyhawks 17-match NE-10 win streak
EASTON, Mass. (March 31,
2010) – Merrimack College, ranked sixth in the ITA
East Regional rankings, took over first place in the Northeast-10
Conference standings with a 5-4 victory over fifth-ranked Stonehill
College in men's tennis action at Sally Blair Ames Sports
Complex this evening. The loss ends Stonehill's 17-match
regular season winning streak against NE-10 opponents dating back
to a 6-3 loss to Bryant University on April 12, 2008.
Junior Liam Hoare (West
Newbury, Mass./Saddlebrook Academy) was a double-winner to
lead Merrimack to the key victory. He clinched the win by holding
off Stonehill freshman Chris Martin (Darien,
Conn./Darien) for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 triumph at fifth
singles. He helped the Warriors to a key 2-1 advantage after
doubles play as he combined with sophomore Rishi Rajpal
(New Delhi, India) for an 8-4 win at second doubles.
Also notching singles victories for
Merrimack were sophomore Sean Pahler (Rumson, N.J./Fair
Haven Regional) at fourth singles and freshman
Petar Golijanin (Novi Sad, Serbia) with a big 6-2,
2-6, 6-4 win over Stonehill senior Mike Leone (Cataumet,
Mass./Bourne) at third singles.
Senior Michael Mashkevich
(Goleta, Calif./Framingham (Mass.)) and junior Tim
Fayed (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) were both
double-winners for Stonehill, combining to account for three of the
Skyhawks four points. The duo teamed up for an 8-1 doubles victory
before Fayed, the reigning NE-10 Player of the Year, cruised
to a 6-0, 6-1 decision over Rajpal at first singles. Mashkevich
kept the Skyhawks alive in the match with a tough 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 win
over Merrimack sophomore Max Eppley (Malaga,
Spain) at second singles.
Sophomore Aaron Bergeron
(Gorham, Maine/Gorham) also earned a point for Stonehill
with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Merrimack junior Tim McHugh
(Edgartown, Mass./Martha's Vineyard) at sixth
singles that knotted the match at 4-4 with the Hoare/Martin singles
match heading to a third set at No. 5.
Stonehill (6-5, 3-1 NE-10) is right
back on the courts tomorrow when it visits Assumption College for a
dual match at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Sunday, April
11, to host Adelphi University at noon. Merrimack (8-3, 7-0 NE-10)
hosts Saint Michael's College next Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Merrimack 5, Stonehill
4
Singles:
|
1. Tim Fayed (STO) def. Rishi
Rajpal (MER) 6-0, 6-1
|
|
2. Michael Mashkevich (STO)
def. Max Eppley (MER) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
|
|
3. Petar Golijanin (MER) def.
Gerald Leone (STO) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
|
|
4. Sean Pahler (MER) def.
Jonathan Burke (STO) 6-4, 6-1
|
|
5. Liam Hoare (MER) def. Chris
Martin (STO) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
|
|
6. Aaron Bergeron (STO) def.
Tim McHugh (MER) 6-3, 6-4
|
*Doubles:
|
1. Fayed/Mashkevich (STO) def.
Golijanin/Pahler (MER) 8-1
|
|
2. Rajpal/Hoare (MER) def.
Leone/Burke (STO) 8-4
|
|
3. Eppley/McHugh (MER) def.
Martin/Bergeron (STO) 8-3
|
* - doubles matches played
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