Army Ends Terriers' Four-Year Reign in Patriot League Semifinal Thriller, 4-3

Saturday, April 21

West Point, NY

2:30 PM

Boston University

Army West Point (PL Semifinals)

Army Ends Terriers' Four-Year Reign in Patriot League Semifinal Thriller, 4-3

April 21, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Results

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Trying to mount a rally after dropping the doubles point, the four-time defending Patriot League champion and No. 3 seed Boston University women's tennis team came up just short at No. 2 Army West Point, 4-3, in the conference tournament semifinals.

With their win streak in the tournament coming to an end at 13 matches, the Terriers conclude the 2018 season at 9-13. The Black Knights (20-6) had won nine straight titles before BU joined the PL in the summer of 2013 and will look to retake the conference against No. 1 Navy in Sunday's tournament final at 12 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Army quickly claimed the doubles point by posting identical 6-2 scores at lines 2 and 3.
All six singles matches took place simultaneously with BU jumping out to a 3-1 lead.
Senior Iryna Kostirko cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 win in the No. 1 slot and was quickly followed by freshman Emily Kim (6-4, 6-4) at line 3.
Freshman Katya Martens captured the final point for the Terriers with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the No. 5 slot.
As BU took a two-point advantage, Army turned the tide by winning the final three singles matches, including two in three sets.
Freshman Lily Burchell dropped a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 decision to Kirby Einch at line 4.
Junior Remi Ramos rallied to force a third set but was broken late for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 loss in the No. 2 slot.
Junior Sophia Kryloff faced a 5-2 deficit in the third set at line 6 and rallied to get back on serve.
However, Danna Funaro broke again to seal the 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory and help Army advance to the PL title match.

FINAL NOTES

A three-time All-Conference honoree (2018 year-end awards come out next week) and 2015 PL Tournament MVP, Kostirko concludes her career with 57 singles victories and 49 doubles wins.
Kim led BU with 20 singles wins on the season, including an 8-6 mark at line 3 ... Both she and Martens had 12 apiece in dual action, one ahead of Ramos.
Burchell and Ramos led the Terriers with 15 doubles wins, including a 12-7 mark at line 1.
BU lost in a conference tournament for the first time since being eliminated by Stony Brook, 4-3, in the 2012 America East semifinals.
Head coach Lesley Sheehan wraps up her 33rd season just four wins shy of 400.
Army has now won three of the last four matches against the Terriers with all three victories occurring at home.
The Terriers ended the season at 1-10 in true road matches with the lone win coming against Harvard, their first against the Crimson since 2009.
BU was also 1-4 in one-point decisions this year.