BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to Incarnate Word Monday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center. The loss drops the Cardinals to 6-17 (.261) on the season and 1-3 (.250) in Southland Conference play.
 
Despite the five-point margin of victory for UIW, the match came down to the wire on  four courts which could have changed the overall outcome of the match. The decision on the top four singles courts all came down to a third set, but unfortunately for the Red and White UIW recorded wins on three of those courts.
 
"I thought we got out to strong start in doubles," said LU head coach Scott Shankles. "We were on serve and got up a break on court 3, but that unfortunately didn't swing the momentum to the other two courts. In singles we came out flat – there was no energy on our side of the court. UIW immediately took advantage of the situation to build some leads. They played like a defending conference champion."
 
The Cardinals took the opening match of the day when sophomore Brock Lauer and freshman Joshua Taylor defeated UIW's Oliver Valentinsson and Dennis Boisseau, 6-3, at No. 3 doubles. Big Red was in the hunt on the other two courts but San Antonio's version of the Cardinals held on for wins to take the point.
 
San Antonio's version of the Cardinals managed to push their lead to 3-0 after wins on singles courts 6 and 5, respectively, but after that the match turned into more of a marathon. The two teams split the opening set on the first four singles courts with the loser battling back to win the second set.
 
LU sophomore Carlos Paton Canal was able to pick up a hard fought win at the No. 4 position defeating Paco Bendana, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Unfortunately, that would be the only point Big Red would hang on the scoreboard as UIW closed the match with wins at Nos. 1, 2 and 4.
 
The Cardinals return to action Wednesday when they travel to Corpus Christi to take on rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The match against the Islanders will begin at 2 p.m. from the Henry Tennis Center.