PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – For the first time in 10 years the College Squash Association (CSA) will crown a new champion after the No. 2 Harvard women's squash team dropped a competitive match to the No. 3 Princeton Tigers in the Howe Cup Semifinals this afternoon at the CSA Team National Championships. The Crimson fell to its Ivy League rival Princeton after a competitive match went to the Tigers by a score of 5-4.
Harvard's historic run that spanned a decade will come to an end as the team will now move into the consolation bracket where it will compete for third place in the tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Crimson fell into an early hole after
Molly Stoltz was defeated at the nine spot, but quickly tied the score when
Habiba Eldafrawy won her match at the third position with a 3-1 victory. The Tigers reclaimed the lead at the end of the first wave as
Brecon Welch was narrowly defeated 2-3 in her match at the sixth position.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead after
Lucie Stefanoni was defeated at the fourth position to begin the second wave.
Marina Stefanoni got one back for the Crimson, making the score 3-2 with her 3-0 victory at the top of the ladder.
Princeton went on to clinch the match with back-to-back wins at the seventh and eighth pairings.
Saran Gregory-Nghiem and
Serena Daniel were both credited with wins after their opponents retired to bring the final score to 5-4 in favor of the Tigers.
RESULTS
No. 2 Harvard – 4
No. 3 Princeton – 5
- Marina Stefanoni def. Zeina Zein (PRI), 3-0 (11-5, 11-4, 11-7)
- Saran Nghiem def. Liyen Teoh (PRI), 1-1 (9-11, 11-1, ret.)
- Habeeba Eldefrawy def. Emma Trauber (PRI), 3-1 (11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5)
- Charlotte Bell (PRI) def. Lucie Stefanoni, 3-1 (11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11)
- Serena Daniel def. Katherine Glaser (PRI), default
- India Stephenson (PRI) def. Brecon Welch, 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9)
- Molly Chadwick (PRI) def. Amira Singh, 3-0 (14-12, 11-8, 12-10)
- Sonya Sasson (PRI) def. Ella Galova, 3-0 (11-2, 11-8, 11-6)
- Caroline Spahr (PRI) def. Molly Stoltz, 3-0 (11-6, 12-10, 12-10)
Order of Finish: 9, 3, 6, 4, 1, 7, 8, 2, 5
