Ewing, NJ… Close matches against ranked opponents are nothing new for The College of New Jersey men's tennis team and Sunday they nearly netted that elusive upset as the young Lions fell to 14th-ranked Salisbury University 5-4 on Sunday.

The loss knocked TCNJ to 7-4 on the season with all four losses coming by identical 5-4 and three of those against ranked opponents. The Lions had seven different players overall in their line-up with that young group consisting of one junior, three sophomores, and three freshman.

Sophomores Steven Fernandez (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) and Stewart Fernandez (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) posted an 8-6 win at first doubles with the other three points coming in singles play.

TCNJ won the third through fifth slots in singles play with junior Jonathan Yu (Hamilton Square, NJ/Steinert) getting the first of those in the third position, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. At fourth singles, freshman Dean Thompson (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) won 6-2, 6-2 before freshman Keith Goldstein (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) claimed a 7-5, 6-4 victory at fifth singles.

TCNJ is idle this week as they don't return to the court until Saturday, April 17 when they host New York University in a noon start.

#14 Salisbury 5, The College of New Jersey 4
Singles competition
1. Scott Burtzlaff (SAL) def. Steven Fernandez (TCNJMEN) 6-2, 6-2
2. Evan Thomas (SAL) def. Stewart Fernandez (TCNJMEN) 6-3, 6-2
3. Jonathan Yu (TCNJMEN) def. David Lupinetti (SAL) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. Dean Thompson (TCNJMEN) def. Daniel Barnas (SAL) 6-2, 6-2
5. Keith Goldstein (TCNJMEN) def. Andrew Nottage (SAL) 7-5, 6-4
6. Giorgio Athans (SAL) def. Daniel Lee (TCNJMEN) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Steven Fernandez/Stewart Fernandez (TCNJMEN) def. Scott Burtzlaff/Evan Thomas (SAL) 8-6
2. Daniel Barnas/Andrew Nottage (SAL) def. Dean Thompson/TJ Riley (TCNJMEN) 8-2
3. David Lupinetti/Marcus Robinson (SAL) def. Daniel Lee/Jonathan Yu (TCNJMEN) 8-5