Iryna Kostirko swings racquet
3
Boston University BOSTONU (9-13)
4
Winner Army West Point ARMY (20-6)
Boston University BOSTONU
(9-13)
3
Final
4
Army West Point ARMY
(20-6)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

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

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.
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