Results

CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. - Down 4-3 late, the second-seeded University of Scranton men's tennis team rallied to collect a pair of thrilling three-set victories in the top two spots of the singles lineup to edge past third-seeded Goucher, 5-4, on Tuesday in the 2021 Landmark Conference Semifinals at Birchwood Tennis Club.

With the win, the Royals move to 8-2 overall and onto their third straight Landmark Conference title match, which will be played at top-seeded Drew on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Goucher's season comes to a close with a 7-3 record, as the three-time defending Landmark champions were ousted from the postseason with the loss.

In doubles, Scranton quickly collected a point at number three, as Goucher did not have players at that position. But, that was the only positive the Royals took out of doubles, as the Gophers came back at both number two (8-6) and number one (8-7 (6)) to take a 2-1 lead on Scranton entering singles.

There, Scranton once again collected a point at number six singles as the Gophers did not have a player for that spot in the line-up to quickly tie the match back up at 2-2.

Then, at number five, junior Sal Sullivan (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic Prep) coasted to a 6-0, 6-0 win to give Scranton the lead back at 3-2. However, Goucher came right back and won matches at number four and number three in straight sets to go back up, 4-3.

This meant that the contest would be decided by two Royals, seniors Tarquin McGurrin (Clarks Summit, Pa./Scranton Prep) and James Harrington (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep), who both lost in the first sets of their respective matches.

But, each picked themselves off the mat to come back strong and eventually clinch the thrilling win for Scranton.

McGurrin, who at number one singles lost his first set, 6-2, rolled in the last two sets, winning 6-3, 6-0 to tie the match right back up at 4-4.

While McGurrin was finishing up his match, Harrington was in an absolute slugfest with Goucher's Brian Kane. After falling in set one, 6-4, Harrington came back strong with a 6-1 win in the second set and looked poised to win without a tiebreak, taking a 5-4 lead late in the third set.

But, Kane came back, winning two straight points to go up, 6-5, and put the Gophers on the cusp of a win. However, Harrington battled back, winning the point to tie it up at 6-6 to force a tiebreak.

There, Harrington took control early and never looked back, rolling to a 7-2 victory to clinch the win for Scranton and remain unbeaten in singles on the year (10-0).

The Royals will now head to Drew on Saturday for the Landmark title match, as Scranton will look to avenge a pair of regular season losses to the Rangers in the contest.

More information on the title tilt will be posted on athletics.scranton.edu as the week progresses.

--ROYALS--