NEW YORK - The Haverford College women's squash team opened the season with a 5-4 victory over host New York University on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Caroline Nightingale, playing at her regular spot at the top of the ladder, provided the winning point in the match with a 3-0 win (11-5, 11-0, 11-3) over Michelle Yhantovsky.

Registering her first career victory, Sophomore Ava Lichauco accounted for the Fords' first point of the day when she made quick work of Rachel Lu at No. 8 (11-3, 11-6, 11-4).

The Violets (0-1) claimed the next three wins to move out to a 3-1 advantage in the match but Haverford (1-0) responded with three consecutive victories of its own. Freshman Isabel Agnew, at No. 4, tallied her first collegiate win as she swept past Haley Sangiacomo (11-4, 11-8, 11-3). Sophomores Alyssa Kaden and Bethany Simmonds then helped the Fords move out to a 4-3 lead in the match with a pair of 3-1 victories at No. 5 and No. 2, respectively.

Claudia Kronfeld earned a win for the hosts at No. 3 to tie the match before Nightingale delivered the match-clinching victory.

Haverford, ranked 31st in the collegiate squash preseason rankings, welcomes Franklin & Marshall College to the Gardner Integrated Athletic Center squash courts on Nov. 16 in its lone home contest of the first semester. The match against the Diplomats begins at noon.