Lesage leads Towson in 6-1 win
The Tigers were consistent on their way to a 6-1 victory over George Mason, with all five of their singles victories coming in straight sets.
Sophomore Sophie Lesage got the string of singles victories started in the No. 1 singles spot with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over George Mason. Then, freshmen Nicole Shakhnazarova, Barbara Vasilkova, Renate van Oorschodt, and Lucy Williams rattled out four more straight set victories. Shakhnazarova won in the No. 2 spot over Esu Erdenebat. Vasilkova followed that victory with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over the Patriots’ Olivia Lacy-Thomson.
Vasilkova said her teammates’ support fueled victory.
“I could rely on my teammates who were cheering me on a lot,” she said. “I believed that I could win that match and it happened.”
Head Coach Doug Neagle said the early victories “definitely helped” build the team’s confidence throughout the match,
“The ladies were gaining more confidence with the more experience they get,” he said. “They were all around more patient on the court.”
After winning five of the six singles matches ¾ the lone loss coming as A.J. Gomer dropped a 6-3, 6-3 ¾ the team’s confidence boost helped them to two doubles victories.
Van Oorschodt paired with fellow freshman Gomer to win, 8-2, over Jane Awad and Lacy-Thomson. Williams and Shakhnazarova defeated Yang and Majike Boers 8-6 before senior Cailey Easdale and Vasilkova dropped a match by the same score.
The Tigers next match is a mid-week showdown against Howard at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, March 3, before their weekend home opener against Marist at noon on Saturday, March 7.