PHILADELPHIA – The No. 2 Goldey-Beacom College women's tennis team came up short, 5-3 against the top-seeded Concordia College Clippers in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference finals Fri. afternoon at the Magarity Tennis Club.

The Lightning (13-2) managed to take one doubles match and two singles matches against a Clipper team that had not allowed more than one point scored against them in CACC play all season.

Concordia (13-1) had shut out six CACC opponents during the season, including GBC on Oct. 1, but head coach Joe Kissel's squad would not got away quietly on this day. The Lightning were actually on their way to winning another singles match when play was stopped because CC earned the decisive fifth point.

In doubles play, sophomore Marina Sales and freshman Blanca Sancho fell 8-4 at the No. 1 spot, followed by the Lightning's freshmen duo of Melanie Bonomo and Vanessa Velasquez falling at second doubles, 8-2.

Junior twin sisters Luciana and Daniela Pereira were able to come up with a huge 8-1 victory at No. 3 doubles over Maria Culaba and Jennifer Secular to secure one of the three doubles points.

Concordia's Yuliya Plevako handed Bonomo a 6-0, 6-0 loss at No. 1 singles, and Maria Ortiz downed Sancho 7-5, 6-1 at No. 3, and the Clippers were suddenly just one win away from clinching a CACC championship in their first season as members of the conference.

But L. Pereira was not to be outdone today at No. 5 singles as she defeated Culaba, 6-0, 6-0 to try and rally the Lightning.

Then sophomore Marina Sales responded with a clutch 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win in what Kissel called a “terrific match.” Suddenly, the Lightning were only down 4-3 with D. Pereira ahead in her No. 6 match and Velasquez battling neck-and-neck in her No. 4 match.

Despite a great effort by Velasquez, Concordia's Camilla Xavier pulled off a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win to clinch the victory for Concordia. D. Pereira was ahead 6-3, 2-0 when play was halted because the Clippers had reached five points.

This match marked the end of the 2009 Fall season for GBC. The Lightning had their best season in the five-year history of the program. They earned the best record in program history at 13-2, the first-ever victory over CACC powerhouse Philadelphia University, the right to host their first CACC semifinal game, and a berth in their first CACC final match.    

AGATE

Concordia 5, GBC 3

Singles

1. Yuliya Plevako (CC) def. Melanie Bonomo (GBC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Marina Sales (GBC) def. Adeline Brennan (CC) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
3. Maria Ortiz (CC) def. Blanca Sancho (GBC) 7-5, 6-1
4. Camille Xavier (CC) def. Vanessa Velasquez (GBC) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
5. Luciana Pereira (GBC) def. Maria Culaba (CC) 6-0, 6-0
6. Daniela Pereira (GBC) vs. Jennifer Secular (CC) DNF

Doubles

1. Plevako/Ortiz (CC) def. Sales/Sancho 8-4
2. Brennan/Xavier (CC) def. Bonomo/Velasquez (GBC) 8-2
3. L. Pereira/D. Pereria (GBC) def. Culaba/Secular 8-1