BOSTON - The UMass Boston men's tennis team moved one step closer to securing the No. 1 Seed in next week's Little East Conference (LEC) Championship Tournament with a 7-2 conference victory over the University of Southern Maine Wednesday.
 
THE BASICS
 
UMass Boston 7, Southern Maine 2
 
UMass Boston (8-3, 5-0 LEC)
Southern Maine (1-8, 0-5 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Beacons cruised to three doubles wins to start the day, and won each of the top-four singles points. The match result was clinched at No. 1 singles, where senior Miguel Beltran blanked Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira. He teamed up with classmate Nandish Shah for an 8-2 No. 1 doubles victory earlier in the day over the Huskies'' team of Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira and Zach Desmarais.
 
Senior Alexander Comerchero and freshman Rudraksh Trivedi registered an 8-1 win over Zac Howe and Azam Jiwa at No. 2 double before blanking their respective singles opponents. Trivedi shut out Desmarais at No. 2 singles, while Comerchero shut out Howe at No. 3 singles.
 
Junior Pierre-Alexandre Fumat also won via shut out in singles play, winning 6-0, 6-0 over Ethan Rudnicki at No. 4. He paired with sophomore David Malone for an 8-1 third doubles triumph over Rudnicki and Jaryd Traverso-Penn at third doubles.
 
PLAYOFF PICTURE
 
The Beacons could clinch the No. 1 later today, if Salem State falls to Bridgewater State - UMass Boston swept the Bears earlier this season to win that potential tie-break. If the Vikings defeat Bridgewater State, Saturday's regular season finale between the Beacons and Salem State will determine the final seeding.  
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
The Beacons will next take on Curry College tomorrow in a 3:30 p.m. non-conference match in Milton.