BOSTON, Mass.—Little East Conference Regular Season Champion Bridgewater State University wrapped up their fourth LEC Regular Season Title in six years, with an 8-1 victory over UMass Boston women's tennis Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
Bridgewater State University 8, UMass Boston 1
(UMass Boston 6-6, Little East 4-4)
(Bridgewater State 9-5, Little East 7-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears spoiled UMass Boston's Senior Day, as the Beacons honored Kelsey Shea (West Bridgewater, Mass.) and Vicky Woytowicz (Springfield, Mass.) before the match.
The pair of seniors have helped lead UMass Boston to three playoff appearances in four seasons, and a 21-40 mark over the past four seasons.
With the loss, UMass Boston will be the sixth seed in next week's Little East Conference Tournament and will travel to intra-state rival UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday afternoon. Last season, the fourth-seeded Corsairs handed the fifth-seeded Beacons a 5-2 loss in the LEC Quarterfinal Round.
Junior Kristy Garcia (Miami, Fla.) earned the Beacons' lone win of the afternoon, as she picked up a three-set victory at number one singles.
Bridgewater State raced out to a 3-0 lead in the match thanks to wins of 8-4, 8-1 and 8-1 across the doubles lineup.
In singles play, Bridgewater State quickly picked up victories at second, third and fourth singles to earn the match win.
Garcia broke up the shutout with her second-straight singles win. She took the first set over Alisha Silva 6-1, before falling 6-4 in set two. In set three, Garcia came out strong and cruised to a 6-2 victory at number one singles.
At number five singles, Woytowicz battled through a three-setter of her own. She went the distance with Rachel Tarantino before falling 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
In the final match of the day, Angelique Gray defeated Maria Benatuil (Caracas, Venezuela) 6-1, 6-4 in fourth singles.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UMass Boston will be making back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time since 2007-2008.
- The Bears improved to 11-0 all-time against the Beacons.
- With her victory, Garcia ends the regular season second on the Beacons with her five singles wins.
WHO'S NEXT
Sixth-seeded UMass Boston will travel to #3 UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday for the Little East Conference Quarterfinals. The time for Tuesday's match is still to be announced.
