Goshen, IN — After knocking off both Grace College and Bethel College by 5-4 scores in its first two Mid-Central Conference matches of the season, the Goshen College women’s tennis team was looking for an opponent it could cruise past.

Unfortunately, perennial power Indiana Wesleyan University appeared next on the schedule.

The annual Mid-Central Conference Champion Wildcats — Wesleyan has won the team title in each of the past five seasons — overpowered Goshen (2-1, 2-1) at the Goshen College Tennis Complex Saturday morning, taking an 8-1 decision in what was the first low-drama event of the season for the Leafs.

“Indiana Wesleyan brought a tough, deep team to Goshen this morning,” said Sarah Yoder, Goshen head coach. “They were very sharp from the beginning. We, on the other hand, got off to very slow starts. Had everyone played as well as they had in practice the past week we would have had some great matches. Instead we came out sluggish and timid.”

With the Leafs’ schedule not helping — Goshen slipped past Bethel just hours earlier (click here for article) — the team’s doubles units were less than stellar, as Goshen’s number one and two doubles squads dropped 8-2 and 8-1 decisions to begin Saturday’s play. The combo of senior Erin Gotwals and sophomore Janie Beck took a 3-2 lead over the Wildcats, but could not outlast their opponents in an 8-4 defeat.

“Erin and Janie had a much better start,” Yoder said. “Indiana Wesleyan raised their game and went on to take six of the next seven games. That put us into singles knowing everyone needed to sharpen their games.”

Yoder’s squad could only sharpen to the extent of one point in singles play, where junior Laurelyn Foderaro took a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) win over Indiana Wesleyan’s Kristi Haddad at number two singles. That win kept her undefeated on the season in singles play, as she has split time between the Leafs’ number one and two positions due to the recurring leg injury of classmate Diana Diaz.

“Laurelyn put up a gutsy performance today,” Yoder said. “She found her rhythm early in the match and she stayed on serve during the first five games. After being down 2-3 she went on to win the next four games and capture the first set. Laurelyn came out sharp in the second set and quickly went up 4-1. It looked like she had the match just about wrapped up when her opponent regrouped and charged back, tying the score at 4-4. Both players held their next two service games and forced a second set tie-break. Laurelyn remained strong and consistent and was able to close out the match 7-4 in the tie-break.”

Foderaro’s point was the only legitimate scoring opportunity for Goshen outside of Gotwals at number six singles, where the senior dropped an 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 decision.

“Erin won an easy first set 6-0 and went up in the second before her opponent regained her consistency and accuracy,” Yoder said. “Erin dropped the second set 3-6 and went on to lose a close third set as well. She battled until the end and on a different day the outcome could have gone the other way.”

Diaz again struggled with injury on the day, retiring after a set and a game at the number one position. Goshen dropped the remainder of its points in straight sets, though Yoder was optimistic following the team’s first defeat of the season.

“The good news is that we know we can be competitive with the strongest team in our conference,” Yoder said. “The bad news was that as a team we did not come out ready to play this morning. We’ll look forward to seeing them again at the conference tournament.”

Goshen now begins a lengthy stretch on the road, as the team will face its next five MCC opponents away from home. That road swing begins Tuesday, when the squad will travel to Marian College. Match time is set for 2 p.m.

Singles:
#1 Sarah Bauss (IWU) def. Diana Diaz (G): 6-3, 1-0 retired
#2 Laurelyn Foderaro (G) def. Kristi Haddad (IWU): 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
#3 Julia Hedgebeth (IWU) def. Hannah Gingerich (G): 6-0, 6-2
#4 Brittany Raymond (IWU) def. Katie Martin (G): 6-0, 6-1
#5 Shannon Gehrke (IWU) def Hannah Groff (G): 6-2, 6-0
#6 Melissa Masterson (IWU) def. Erin Gotwals (G): 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
Doubles:
#1 Haddad/Gehrke (IWU) def Gingerich/Diaz (G): 8-2
#2 Hedgebeth/Raymond (IWU) def. Foderaro/Martin (G): 8-1
#3 Helm/Kooyers (IWU) def. Gotwals/Janie Beck (G) 8-4