St. Mary's City, Md. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland men's tennis team experienced their first competitive action since September 27-29, 2014 as the Seahawks opened up the home portion of their 2014-15 schedule against Goucher College at the Somerset Tennis Complex Sunday afternoon. Goucher came out on top with a 7-2 non-conference win.

Goucher (3-2) posted a 2-1 lead after doubles play as junior Nick Ersoy (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) and first-year Kyle Van Winter (Scaggsville, Md./Good Counsel) gained an 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles to avoid the doubles sweep for the Seahawks.

The Gophers then dropped only two games in posting straight-set victories at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 singles to claim the match win with a 5-1 advantage, earning wins in five of nine possible flights.

Junior captain Mark Hardesty (Westminster, Md./Westminster) looked to stop the bleeding at No. 1 singles as Hardesty forced a third set but dropped a 5-7, 7-5, 2-6 decision to junior captain Seth Hoesman (Ellicott City, Md./Howard), stretching the Goucher lead to 6-1.

First-year Britt Shortle (Lake Mary, Fla./Trinity Prep) notched the Gophers seventh and final point with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Ersoy at No. 5 singles.

St. Mary's (1-2) ended the match with a win as Van Winter registered a gutsy 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 11-9 triumph over first-year Josh Goldberg (Centreville, Md./Queen Anne's County) in the sixth singles flight.

The next time the Seahawks get back on the court they will be in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for the PTR Spring TennisFest. St. Mary's will face Edgewood College on March 15th at 8:30 a.m., Frostburg State University on March 16th at 12:30 p.m., and Albright College on March 17th at 8:00 a.m.

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