BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The second seeded Moravian College women's tennis team saw its 2018 season come to a close in a hard-fought, 5-4 loss to third seed The Catholic University of America in a Landmark Conference Semifinal contest at Hoffman Courts Tuesday afternoon.

The Greyhounds, who finish the year at 11-3, had a 2-1 lead after the doubles action. The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead with an 8-1 victory at first doubles before the tandem of sophomore Lauren Steinert and freshman Mary Angle tied the contest for the Hounds with an 8-2 win at third doubles. Freshmen Brooke Adams and Kristen Cassidy put Moravian ahead with an 8-5 triumph at second doubles.

The contest would go back and forth in singles play. Catholic tied the score at 2-2 with a straight sets win at sixth singles before Steinert captured a 6-2, 6-2 victory at fifth singles to put the Blue and Grey back in front, 3-2. Cassidy and Adams nearly forced third sets in the their singles contest but the Cardinals would take straight sets wins at second and third singles for a 4-3 edge. Angle knotted the score once again at 4-4 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at fourth singles.

When she finished, her twin sister freshman Emma Angle had forced a third set in her first singles match with a 6-3 win in set two after dropping set one, 6-3. Emma was tied at 2-2 in the final set before Catholic won four of the final five points to take the set and advance to the Landmark Conference Championship match on Saturday, May 5 at top seed The University of Scranton, which defeated Elizabethtown College, 5-0, in Tuesday's other Semifinal contest.

"It was a hard fought battle which came down to a match between an experienced Catholic team and a young Moravian squad," stated assistant coach Mariana Freitas. "Although we lost, we were able to compete in each match. I'm very proud of everyone's effort not only during today's match but throughout the entire season. We have such a young talented group of ladies, and we are excited at how this team will compete next year."