Box Score - MSMC (4/17/16) Box Score - FSC (4/16/16) Purchase, NY
(April 17, 2016) – Three challenging Skyline Conference matches in four days proved too much to overcome Sunday as a talented Mount Saint Mary squad topped Purchase 8-1.
The Panthers also fell 7-2 Saturday at Farmingdale State. They previously took the court Thursday night in a loss to top-seeded Yeshiva University. Purchase, which had won four straight, has now lost four in-a-row, including a non-conference defeat to Ramapo. Panther
head coach Peter Nestel acknowledged MSMC's determined group, but also said it wasn't easy for his team to play three matches in four days, let alone against three of the conference's best.
In the loss Sunday, Purchase falls to 6-6 overall, including 2-2 in the league, while the Knights improved to 6-3 on the spring and 3-1 in the Skyline. The Knights opened with three doubles wins. They captured a victory at first doubles, 8-5, and managed to also slip past at third doubles, 8-5. They also won second doubles, 8-3.
MSMC's first singles player, Matt Anastasi, was on his game. He defeated Purchase's
Riley Damerell (JR/Rochester, NY) 6-0, 6-1. He also teamed with Nate Dimmie for that 8-5 win at first doubles. Dimmie outlasted
Joseph Troop (SR/Yonkers, NY) at second singles in a 10-8 tiebreaker. The Panthers recorded their lone win at No. 5 singles, where
Finbar Stuart (FR/Woodstock, NY) earned a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Joe Borden.
On Saturday, the Panthers lost two of the three doubles matches to start from down 2-1. Damerell and Troop provided a nice highlight with their win at first doubles. The tandem combined to take down Andy Bentz and Daniel Kafka, 8-3.
But Bentz edged Damerell 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) at first singles, while the Rams managed to survive some tight scores in earning victories at third-sixth singles.
Troop played one of his best matches of the season in the lone singles win. He topped Kevin Palacious (6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (12-10) at second singles.
The Rams improved to 8-3 overall and 4-1 in conference with Saturday's victory.
Purchase will now look to bounce back Tuesday in a non-conference reschedule with SUNY Oneonta. That match is set for 4:30 p.m.
