Box Score

Goshen, NY (Oct. 26, 2011) – Women's tennis had early leads that it couldn't hold against top-seeded Mount Saint Mary in the semifinals of the Skyline Conference Tournament Wednesday night.

The No. 4 Panthers pushed the Knights to the brink in a close 5-3 decision in which No. 6 singles went unfinished as the late night match dragged into the midnight hour. MSMC's Annmarie Llewellyn closed out her match at fifth singles at approximately 11:40 p.m., sending the Knights to victory over Purchase at Matchpoint Tennis in Goshen.  

The Mount (12-2) advances to play second-seeded St. Joseph's College in Saturday's championship match, while the defeat concludes the Panthers' season.

The Knights jumped out to a 2-1 advantage after the doubles competition, capturing the matches at second and third doubles.  Mount's Gabriela Murphy-Goldberg earned the first singles point of the night to make it 3-1, but Purchase responded with a win at third singles to make it 3-2. The Knights took fourth singles, but dropped second singles, leaving the match at 4-3 and setting the table for Llewellyn.

However, Purchase had early advantages in four of the six singles match. The Panthers struggled in many of the second sets, falling behind late to lose those matchups. The match was moved from 5 p.m. outdoors to 7 p.m. indoors and took nearly five hours to complete.

The doubles highlight of the evening for Purchase belonged to the No. 1 pairing of Gabriella Marden (SO/Bayside, NY) and Moriah Ormsby (SO/Montebello, NY). The duo won 8-6, capping an amazing season at No. 1 doubles.

Meanwhile. Ormsby and Melissa Siller (FR/Rosyln Heights, NY) led the way in singles, with Ormsby winning at No. 2 and Siller taking her match at No. 3. The two players will be among the Skyline favorites for all-conference honors next week.

“We played our best match of the season,” said head coach Patricia Troiano. “The team shocked everyone by coming out strong and playing a very close match. Number one doubles set the tone for the team with an incredible victory, playing their best doubles all season. And Moriah and Melissa had amazing wins in singles, keeping the team fighting until the very end.

“We had them on the ropes,” added Troiano of the semifinal, “but we couldn't close the door. We were close. We're disappointed, but I'm proud of the team's effort. It's been a great season. We wish Mount Saint Mary the best of luck in the championship.”

The Panthers rebounded from an 8-1 loss to the Knights at home during the regular season's final week and nearly knocked off "Goliath" in the tournament. “They were saying how close we got and how nervous they were that it was over, but we just couldn't get over the hump late in the match,” Troiano noted. “We had our chances, but came up just short.”

Purchase has been a perennial semifinal participant under Troiano, but the Panthers are confident that they will be able to reach the championship sometime soon. “Each year, we get a little closer,” Troiano said. “We're right there.”

With a loaded recruiting class on tap and a strong returning core in place, the Panthers are expected to contend once again next fall.