YOUNGSTOWN - Cardinal Mooney girls tennis team knew how it was to come into a match undefeated and leave with a loss.
The Cardinals experienced that earlier this week in a loss to Canfield.
"Canfield was a different, better team. We tried our best against them," said Mooney's No. 1 singles player - junior Kacey Haggerty.
Article Photos
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo
Cardinal Mooney’s Dominique Cicchi, left, and Jamie DiDomenico, play against John F. Kennedy Thursday at Cardinal Mooney High School. The Cardinals beat the Eagles, 5-0.
Haggerty and the Cardinals hosted undefeated John F. Kennedy Thursday.
The Eagles befell the same fate as Mooney did earlier in the week, coming away with their first loss.
The Cardinals swept Kennedy, 5-0. Mooney improves to 13-1, while Kennedy drops to 6-1.
Haggerty met Kennedy's No. 1 singles player and senior Lauren Lee in an anticipated rematch of last year's sectional in Boardman where Lee came away with a dominant victory.
This time, Haggerty swept Lee, 6-1, 6-0.
"I thought it would be a long, hard match. I just played good and executed shots," Haggerty said.
Lee, who has been Kennedy's top player the last two years, appreciated the Eagles getting off to a good start this season.
Kennedy beat Boardman Wednesday, heading into Thursday's match.
"Every season we've had a new coach, so it's not been consistent or anything," Lee said. "The girls, we know what we have to do. We started off the season pretty good.
"It's a hard match. Mooney is a great team."
Lee has made it to districts the last two seasons - as a singles and doubles player.
JFK coach Laura Kolovich said Lee has had some tough draws the last two seasons.
"I think this might be her year," Kolovich said.
JFK's second singles of senior Chandler Shoaf and sophomore Rachel Pinti lost to Mooney senior Gianna Parella and freshman Lizzie Mathews, 6-2, 6-1.
"They're pretty consistent and they work well together," Lee said. "I think they'll do good in tournament."
Then, Kennedy co-captain and senior Megan Guliano paired with freshman Maria Stroup against Mooney juniors Jamie DiDomenico and Dominique Cicchi with the Cardinals winning, 6-3, 6-1.
Despite the outcome, the JFK doubles team will be OK, Lee said.
"With her leadership and experience there, she'll help Maria out," Lee said.
JFK senior Autumn Howard lost to Mooney sophomore Gianna Reider at second singles, while Eagles sophomore Rachel Vince was beaten by Cardinals sophomore Hallie Yerian at third singles. Mooney swept both 6-0, 6-0.
Mooney displayed its depth Thursday.
"One advantage is the depth of our team. A lot of my girls are very good," Mooney coach Jimmy Leslie said.
So is Haggerty and Lee, who will be two of the top seeds at this year's Division II Boardman sectional.
"From here, I'm going to move forward," Lee said. "I'm going to practice harder and everything, see her in the tournament and play her again."
"Now I know how to play her, so I think it will be easier," Haggerty said.
