MIDDLEBURY, Conn. - - The Wilmington University women's tennis team dropped the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship, 5-3, to in-state rival Goldey-Beacom on Saturday afternoon at the Edgewood Bath & Tennis Club, hosted by Post University.

It was a hard fought contest for the Wildcats (10-6), as they found themselves behind, 2-1, after the doubles event. The Wildcats won the first two singles contest to take a 3-2 advantage, but the Lightning (11-0) fought back by winning the final three singles matches to take the match, 5-3.

The Wildcats were only able to take the No. 2 doubles match on Saturday, as Begona Gomar and Anushka Sathe earned the lone Wilmington points, 8-6. Jane Malygina and Tess Paya lost at number three doubles, 8-2, while Laura Gil and Andrea Ribalta fell at No. 1 doubles, 8-2, before the Wilmington win at number two.

Paya tied the match at 2-2 with a win at number six singles, 6-1 and 6-1, right before Sathe gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead at number four singles with a 6-3 and 6-3 victory.

But the Lightning bounced back by taking the next three singles matches, wrapping up the CACC Championship, 5-3. Lotte Lesscher y Post defeated Gomar at number one singles, 7-5 and 6-2, to tie the match before Catarina Zheng gave the Lightning the lead with a win at number two singles, 7-5 and 6-1. Alma Garcia Valle gave the Lightning the victory with a 6-3 and 7-5 victory at number five singles over Ribalta.

Jane Malygina forced a third set at number three singles, 6-3, 3-6, and 5-2, the only match to go unfinished on Saturday.

The CACC Championship Match was the farthest the Wildcats have gone in their two year existence, and will continue their 2017-18 season in the spring. The Wildcats will look to get into the NCAA rankings and continue to compete in the postseason at the end of the spring schedule.