Reegan Miller prepares to hit a return for NorthWood in her No 1 singles match Friday. The Panthers lost to Concord 4-1 in NLC action at Goshen College.

GOSHEN – NorthWood girls tennis coach Tif Schwartz said that she expected Concord to boast a strong singles lineup Friday night.

She was right on the money with that thought.

The Minutemen rode a stellar singles showing on all three courts to earn a 4-1 win over the Panthers in Northern Lakes Conference action at Goshen College.

Concord used its veteran singles lineup to turn back NorthWood in the league opener for both teams. The Panthers are also without Alex Jesse. The sophomore, who played No. 1 singles a year ago, is out indefinitely due to a leg injury.

Schwartz, whose team beat Concord 4-1 during the regular season and then lost 5-0 to them in a regional match in 2017, was upbeat despite the setback.

“I knew that Concord would be tough,” said Schwartz. “I expect them to be one of the top teams in the conference this season. I knew that they would be really strong at singles and they were tonight.

“I thought that we played pretty well. I saw a lot of good things. I’m still playing with our lineup and things will probably change.”

Concord, which dropped its season opener to Penn 3-2 Tuesday, lost a total of just six games in sweeping the singles.

Junior Regan Landis gave Concord its first point with a 6-0, 6-0 win over junior Gretchen Adams at No. 2 singles play. The Minutemen made it 2-0 when senior Camille Lozier topped sophomore Lauren Mikel 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3. A couple of minutes later, senior Maya Klopfenstein earned a 6-1, 6-4 victory over junior Reegan Miller on the No. 1 singles court.

Landis played at No. 2 singles and Klopfenstein was at No. 3 a year ago when Concord finished 13-3. The Minutemen won the program’s first sectional title since 2003 and its first regional championship since 1992 during the 2017 campaign.

Miller was in the No. 2 singles position for the Panthers a year ago. NorthWood went 14-4 last season and claimed its first sectional championship since 2009.

The highlight of the match for the Panthers, who fall to 0-2, was at No. 1 doubles. Seniors Kennedy Wiens and Betsy Nunemaker defeated juniors Keegan Thursby and Meaghan Godzisz 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Wiens and Nunemaker trailed 4-0 in the tiebreak before roaring back for the straight set win.

Gretchen Adams of the Panthers.

Wiens, who recently signed to compete in rowing at Indiana University, was a state finalist at No. 1 doubles two years ago playing with Jama Rice. Wiens, who is also a volleyball standout, lost in the regional to Concord last season with then senior Rice. Nunemaker played at No. 2 doubles last season for the Panthers.

“I thought that the No. 1 doubles match was a very good, close match with good play by all four players,” Schwartz remarked. “Kennedy and Betsy were talking well, moving well and making the changes they needed to make tonight. They did a lot on their own without relying on me to tell them and that’s very encouraging. They are both grinders and do not want to lose.”

Concord claimed the No. 2 doubles match as junior Kelsee O’Dell and sophomore Lauren Pollock defeated junior Riley Graber and senior Olivia Feller 6-3, 6-1.

“Our No. 2 doubles communicated well tonight,” said Schwartz. “I thought that Riley did a great job. She played with Caroline Mullet  on Tuesday night. Another big positive was the way that Reegan turned it around in the second set at No. 1 singles.”

NorthWood, which lost to Fairfield 3-2 on Tuesday, falls to 0-2.

The Panthers,with their new courts at the high school not ready for use, are practicing and playing its home matches for the foreseeable future at Goshen College.

“We’re just waiting for warmer weather so that they can paint the courts,” said Schwartz.

“It’d definitely different practicing and playing here. But, Goshen College has been just great to us. We did this with our boys season last fall too. The girls have responded well to it.”

Concord won the junior varsity match 7-0.

NorthWood is scheduled to play in an invitational at New Prairie Saturday. The Panthers then play at Elkhart Central Monday before resuming NLC matches versus Elkhart Memorial Tuesday at Goshen College and at Plymouth on Thursday.

Concord plays in the East Noble Invitational Saturday and then hosts league foe Wawasee Tuesday night.