ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern played two matches on Saturday, splitting contests against Northwestern College of Iowa and the University of St. Thomas. The Eagles were victorious over the Red Raiders in an 8-1 finish before St. Thomas claimed an 8-1 win over UNW on its indoor home court.

Northwestern (Minn.) vs. Northwestern (Iowa) Results

In the first match of the day, a 9 a.m. contest versus NAIA-member Northwestern, the Eagles had little difficulty. UNW dropped just one match against the scholarship-giving opponent, UNW's second win over a school in that category this season. Surprisingly, the one loss came at No. 1 doubles, where Megan Johnson (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) and Karen Moe (Fargo, N.D./Fargo South ) had not yet lost a match in 2015, but it was Franke Eszes and Terry Odera claiming an 8-6 victory over the Eagles' top team. Northwestern took the other two doubles matches, with Birdie Bardwell (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) and Rachel Bostrom (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) winning 8-4 against Valerie Robinson and Daniela Lozano while UNW's Brooke Lapinski (Chanhassen, Minn./Chanhassen) and Tina Matetich (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) were 8-3 victors over McKayla Johnson and Anna Haler.

With Norhtwestern leading 2-1 after the doubles round, it was time for singles play, where the Ealges took all six matches. UNW's Johnson rebounded for a 6-4, 6-3 win over Eszes at No. 1, while Moe pulled out a 7-5 second set victory to beat Lozano after winning Set 1 by a 6-1 count. Both Bardwell and Lapinski went into third set tiebreakers, but the 10-8 and 10-6 scores in those sets both went Northwestern's way. Bostrom needed little time to deal a 6-1, 6-2 blow to Odera In No. 4 singles before Matetich won her No. 6 match 6-0, 6-3.

Northwestern (Minn.) vs. St. Thomas Results (official stats still to come)

Things didn't go as well against the Tommies as Moe was the only winner wearing a Northwestern uniform. UNW took points in all three doubles matches, but Johnson and Moe's 8-6 loss was as close as any Eagles team got in the pairs events.

Johnson lost to Shelby Henderson in a pair of tight sets, 7-5 and 7-5, at No. 1 singles while Moe pulled out a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win against Bridget Noalk. The remaining four singles bouts went to St. Thomas in convincing fashion, with Matetich being the only Nos. 3-6 player to get more than two games in a set.

Saturday was Northwestern's last day of matches for a while, as the Eagles' next contests will be outdoors in a much warmer location when UNW heads south to the Tampa, Florida area for the team's annual spring break trip. Northwestern is scheduled to play five matches in the Sunshine State, the first of which will be against Catawba College on March 9.