EDINBORO, Pa. – West Chester dropped a three-setter at fourth singles as host Edinboro came away with a 5-4 win over the visiting Golden Rams Sunday afternoon in a PSAC men’s tennis contest.
West Chester (8-9, 4-1 PSAC) saw its seven-match winning streak snapped as the Rams fell for the first time in a conference match. Edinboro (15-6, 3-2) will be the fourth-seed in the upcoming PSAC Tournament. West Chester clinched the top seed in the tournament and the regular-season championship on Saturday with its win at Mercyhurst.
David Goldenberg won the first set, 6-2, at fourth singles, but Edinboro’s Colin Bandell took the second and third sets, 6-4, 6-4, for the fifth and deciding point in the match.
The Golden Rams captured second and third doubles to take a 2-1 lead into the singles competition. Cody Leimback and Wanzell Flemming were 8-2 winners over Amir Talab and Kody Duncan while Goldenberg and Steve Hlava were 8-3 winners over Kevin Caldwell and James Cooper.
However, Edinboro fought back with wins at first, second and third singles. Pat McGinley was a 6-2, 6-4 winner at fifth singles for West Chester while J.J. Cooke was a 7-5, 6-2 winner at sixth singles. Cooke was down 4-1 in that first set, before he rallied for the win.
West Chester is at Bloomfield College tomorrow for a non-league match and then travels to Gloucester College on Wednesday. The PSAC semifinals are scheduled for Friday, April 19 at Indiana (Pa.). West Chester will take on Edinboro in one semifinal while Kutztown plays Mercyhurst in the other semifinal.
Doubles:
1. Colin Bandell/Brandon Romain (EU) def. Chaz Irwin/Pat McGinley (WCU) 8-5
2. Cody Leimback/Wanzell Fleming (WCU) def. Amir Talab/Kody Duncan (EU) 8-2
3. David Goldenberg/Steve Hlava (WCU) def. Kevin Caldwell/James Cooper (EU) 8-3
Singles:
1. Kevin Caldwell (EU) def. Connor Dunn (WCU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Amir Talab (EU) def. Chaz Irwin (WCU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Kody Duncan (EU) def. Lars Kristiansen (WCU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Colin Bandell (EU) def. David Goldenberg (WCU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. Pat McGinley (WCU) def. Brandon Romain (EU) 6-2, 6-4
6. J.J. Cooke (WCU) def. James Cooper (EU) 7-5, 6-2
FINAL: Edinboro - 5 (15-6, 3-2); West Chester - 4 (8-9, 4-1)
* Bandell/Goldenberg was last to finish
