Goreau leads Gold Nuggets past No. 5 Lady Crusaders

NEW ORLEANS — Charlene Goreau's senior-day ceremony will be Sunday, but Xavier University of Louisiana's three-time first-team All-American earned some special treatment Saturday during the Gold Nuggets' 6-3 victory against William Carey.
     
Head coach Alan Green moved Goreau from the second court to the first in doubles and singles, and she responded with victories in both matches to help the NAIA No. 3 Gold Nuggets (14-4) defeat the fifth-ranked Lady Crusaders (9-2) for the second time this season.
     
On Sunday, when the Gold Nuggets play host to ninth-ranked LSU-Alexandria at 11 a.m., Goreau again will play on the first courts. And for the second straight day Mariia Borodii will play No. 2 doubles and singles.
     
"These will be the last two times Charlene plays on these courts," Green said. "She came in as a freshman and played No. 1, and she will go out on these courts doing that. After Sunday, Mariia will resume playing No. 1."
     
Goreau and Angela Charles-Alfred defeated Lorena Jimenez and Manon Benetrix 8-0, and Goreau made it 4-1 when she beat Valeriya Shurbina 6-0, 6-4.
     
Borodii clinched, but the All-American was taken to three sets for the first time since the opener Jan. 27. Borodii rallied to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) against Wijitbanjong Pakkaro. When the Gold Nuggets won 5-2 at William Carey five weeks, ago, Pakkaro lost in straight sets to Charles-Alfred on the third court.

BOX SCORE
     
Borodii and Charles-Alfred were XULA's other two-time winners. Borodii and Yi Chen Pao defeated Shurbina and Sabrina Goetzen 8-3, giving Borodii a 13-0 record in doubles this semester. Charles-Alfred was first off the court in singles; she rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Benetrix.
     
Also winning for the Gold Nuggets was Farah Baklouti in a 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-7) decision against Nastassia Chamoun.
     
"Great job by the Nuggets," Green said. "They played much better in doubles than the first meeting. Carey always plays us tough and today was no exception."
     
XULA improved to 8-0 this season against ranked opponents and won for the 12th time in its last 13 matches overall.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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