The Lake Forest College women's tennis team dropped a 7-2 decision to Wheaton College, the 14th-ranked team in the Central Region, Thursday night at the College Park Athletic Club in nearby Bannockburn. Sophomore Sarah Paulson's three-set victory over the region's 17th-ranked singles player highlighted the night for the Foresters.
Paulson was nearly victorious in doubles as well. She and senior Lucy-George Cooper were edged out 9-8 (7-1) at #2 while sophomore Grace Dowling and senior Elina Shapiro also went to a tiebreaker in their 9-8 (7-4) win at #3. Wheaton prevailed at #1 and led 2-1 after doubles play was completed.
Thunder victories at #2, #6, and #3 singles clinched the team win for the visitors and they tacked on another point at #3. Paulson then finished off a grueling 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) triumph at the top spot in the lineup for her first victory of the season over a regionally-ranked opponent. Wheaton closed out the contest with a win at #5.
The Foresters fell to 17-3 on the season while Wheaton raised its record to 12-4.
It was the final career home match for Cooper and Shapiro, and they were honored before the match began.
Lake Forest will finish off the year with a pair of matches at Carthage College on Sunday, April 13. The Foresters will take on the hosts at 9:00 in the morning and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at 12:30 p.m.
