|
|
SEPT.
5 — Shorthanded Leafs Pick Up Win To Start Season
Squad
rolls over Indiana Tech before rain moves in; Girma suffers
groin pull |
Goshen, IN — Goshen wasn’t at full strength to start with Tuesday
night, and following its 6-2 win over Indiana Tech, it was in even worse
shape.
With sophomore Shyam Sabanathan sitting out the match due to
a pre-existing upper arm injury, it was junior Beakal Girma that fell victim
to harm during the match, suffering a groin pull and forcing him to retire
from his number one singles match. Despite the loss of health at key positions,
Goshen (1-0, 0-0) took an impressive win over the Warriors, sweeping the
doubles positions and cruising at most singles before a light rain halted
what would have been the final singles match to conclude.
“This win was a great way to start the season,” said Stan King,
Goshen head coach. “I thought our guys were ready for the match, playing
with focus and purpose. If we can get fully healthy, we will be a fun team
to
watch throughout the year.”
Goshen’s doubles teams looked to be having fun from the outset Tuesday,
as the Leafs’ number two and three doubles positions caught little
resistance from Tech in either bout. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring point
came at the number one doubles slot, however, as Girma and sophomore Sheldon
Good teamed to rally for a 9-7 win that set the tone for the remainder of
the match.
“It was a really good feeling to take a 3-0 lead with wins at
all three doubles,” King said. “I was pleased with our doubles
play, especially the way Beakal Girma and Sheldon Good fought
back from a 2-7 deficit in their number one doubles match to take it 9-7,
holding off
two match points in the process.”
The Leafs’ dominance continued into the singles slate, as senior Tim
Yoder started things off with a quick, 6-0, 6-0 win at number six. Freshman
Aaron Sutter was next to conclude at the number two singles slot — a
6-1, 6-0 win — while Good took out Indiana Tech’s Mark Freiherr
6-0, 6-4 in the number four position.
Girma, who was leading in the first set by a 5-2 count when he
pulled his groin, eventually retired after being unable to move on the court.
His 7-5 loss in that set was an indicator of his pain, while Goshen College
athletic trainers are calling his availability to play “day to day.” Nearly
as upsetting was a light rain that began to fall after most all matches were
completed, leaving freshman Joel King to have to settle for a no decision
in his first collegiate singles match, even though he was leading 5-7, 7-6
(7-5), 4-3 before the court became too slippery to continue on.
“Joel’s match at number three singles went on for over three
hours, with Joel taking the second set in a tie-breaker and leading 4-3 in
the third
set before the match had to be called on account of slippery
courts due to a light rain,” Stan King said. “The real concern
following the match is with Beakal and Shyam. We hope Beakal’s injury
is not too serious, and that both can return to the lineup next week.”
Goshen will next host Mid-Central Conference foe Grace College
in a non-conference matchup Saturday. Match time is set for 2 p.m.
Singles:
#1 Jose Villavisencio (IT) def Beakal Girma 7-5 (retired)
#2 Aaron Sutter (G) def Vincent Banda 6-0, 6-1
#3 Joel King (G) leading Brandon Barger 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 4-3 (match
called due to rain)
#4 Sheldon Good (G) def Mark Freiherr 6-0, 6-4
#5 Matt Holloway (IT) def J D Windhorst 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
#6 Tim Yoder (G) def Koenan Jordan 6-0, 6-0
Doubles:
#1 Girma/Good (G) def Villavisencio/Barger 9-7
#2 Sutter/King (G) def Freiherr/Holloway 8-3
#3 Windhorst/Yoder (G) def Jordan/Banda 8-3
|
  Junior
Beakal Girma
|
|
|
|
|
|
