WORCESTER, Mass. – The Plymouth State Panthers edged the Worcester State Lancers 5-4 in the last regular season game of the 2015 season, as freshman Irene Ireme (Concord, N.H.) clinched the win for the Panthers in the fourth flight singles match 7-5 and 7-6 (8-6TB) over Worcester State's sophomore Nathalie Khafaga (Auburn, Mass.).
The afternoon started out with Plymouth State on top as sophomore Sunny Jakubas (Califon, N.J.) and junior Rachel Gustafson (Belchertown, Mass.) defeated Worcester State's Khafaga and sophomore Rachel Green (Worcester, Mass.) 3-8. First flight duo of junior Shelby Jankins (W. Brookfield, Mass.) and senior Megan Shepard (Middletown, Conn.) came in second defeating the Panthers' senior Zara Jakubas (Califon, N.J.) and Ireme 8-6. The last doubles match consisted of freshman Kelley Corson (Exeter, N.H.) and senior Peyton Smith (Stuttgart, Germany) defeating senior Cassandra Goncalves (Ludlow, Mass.) and sophomore Olivia Budney (Webster, Mass.) 5-8, giving the Panthers the 2-1 advantage going into the singles competition.
Plymouth State went ahead with their lead off of first singles finisher S. Jakubas defeated Shepard 1-6 and 1-6. They added to their lead when Z. Jakubas defeated Jankins 1-6 and 2-6 in the second singles finish of the afternoon.
With the Panthers up 4-1, Worcester State came back with two back-to-back wins as Goncalves defeated Gustafson 6-2 and 6-3, and then Green came through with a 6-4 and 6-0 defeat over sophomore Megan Wallace (Moultonborough, N.H.).
With the game on the line, Plymouth State's Ireme came through defeating Khafaga as the Panthers clinched the match win.
With the loss, the Lancers ended regular season play with a 5-9 overall record and a 3-5 Little East Conference (LEC) record. The Panthers ended their regular season play with an overall record of 8-5 (6-2 LEC).
The two teams will face up once again on Tuesday (Oct. 20) for post season play in the LEC Quarterfinals.
Box Score can be found HERE
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