TOWSON, Md. – A singles victory by freshman A.J. Gomer pushed the Towson University women's tennis team to a 4-3 win over Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival Drexel on Saturday afternoon in a thrilling Senior Day match.
 
"This is two comeback wins in a row for us after the doubles point," Head Coach Doug Neagle said. "We'd obviously love to win that doubles point but it just truly shows the resilience of these girls. They have so much confidence in themselves.
 
"I think our tough schedule that we've had is really helping us out now," Neagle continued. "We had a really, really tough schedule. I knew by the end of this year that this young team wasn't going to be so young anymore."
 
The Tigers (12-8, 3-2 CAA play) fought back after dropping the doubles point to secure the first victory over Drexel since the 2010-11 season.
 
The Dragons claimed three close victories (8-6, 8-6, 8-5) in doubles play to get the early edge over the Tigers.
 
Freshmen Nicole Shakhnazarova and Lucy Williams responded for the Tigers, winning in the No. 1 and 2 singles spots.
 
Shakhnazarova's win was her 23rd overall singles win this season and helped her improve to 4-1 against CAA opponents. She beat Drexel's Nicole Pivonka 6-2 in the first set before dropping the second set 4-6. Shakhnazarova held strong in the third-set tiebreaker, winning it 6-4 to claim the win.
 
Williams defeated the Dragon's Erin Bowsher in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. She is now 3-2 in conference singles play and has 19 overall singles wins this season.
 
Towson freshman Barbora Vasilkova added another singles win for the Tigers at No. 5, besting Drexel's Ryshena Providence in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Vasilkova is tied with Shakhnazarova for the best Tiger record in CAA play, 4-1.
 
The Dragons fought back at No. 3 and No. 6 singles to tie the match at three apiece as Towson's Gomer prepared to battle Drexel's Lea Winkler for the match point.
 
"A.J. said 'Coach, I wanted it to come down to me,'" Neagle explained. "When you hear a freshman say that, you know that they're starting to gain confidence."
 
Gomer won the first set 6-4 but dropped the second set 2-6 to bring the match to a thrilling third-set tiebreaker. Gomer kept her composure for a 6-1 win to secure Towson's win.
 
Towson honored its two seniors, Ayana Dow and Cailey Easdale prior to the match starting. Dow ended her four-year career with 28 singles wins and 36 doubles victories. Easdale totaled 17 singles victories and 35 double wins during her four-year campaign.
 
"Two of the goals on our team goal sheet was beat Delaware and beat Drexel," Neagle commented. "Their other goal was to finish in the top-half of the conference. We have a lot of work ahead of us to be able to do that but this weekend but this match today helped a lot with our confidence."
 
Towson will travel next to William & Mary for the CAA Tournament from April 16-19.  
 
Doubles:

1. Nicole Pivonka/Clary Rodriguez Cruz (D) def. Nicole Shakhnazarova/Renate van Oorschodt (T): 8-6
2.  Erin Bowsher/Ryshena Providence (D) def. Lucy Williams/Ayana Dow (T): 8-6
3. Lea Winkler/Kendra Bunch (D) def. Cailey Easdale/Barbora Vasilkova (T): 8-5

Singles:

1. Shakhnazarova (T) def. Pivonka (D): 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
2. Williams (T) def. Bowsher (D): 6-4, 6-2
3. Rodriguez Cruz (D) def. Sophie Lesage (T): 6-4, 7-5
4. A.J. Gomer (T) def. Winkler (D): 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
5. Vasilkova (T) def. Providence (D): 6-1, 6-1
6. Fiorella Coria (D) def. Dow (T): 6-0, 6-1