MEDFORD, Mass. - Wrapping up CSA Team Championships action in the Epps Cup third place match, the 28th-ranked Haverford College women's squash team (6-10) reversed an earlier December loss to No. 27 Connecticut College with a 6-3 decision over the Camels (5-13). Haverford's victory over Connecticut College represents Haverford's best CSA Team Championships best finish in program history, taking third in the Epps Cup or "D" Division for the first time.
The victory over Connecticut College was the program's first win over a NESCAC opponent since Haverford dispatched Tufts in the E Division Final at the 2013 CSA Championships and the first over Connecticut College since 2003.
The Fords looked poised at the top flight with Ariana Solecki continuing a standout first year campaign with a quick sweep of Rachel Matamoros (11-5, 11-2, 11-8). Playing in her final collegiate team match, Izzy Johnson also swept Isabel Schumacher at the second flight (11-7, 11-3, 11-4). At the third, Catherine Fortin delivered a four-game win over Karen Escalera (11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7).
The success at the top flights was supplemented by some grind-it-out battles down the ladder. that resulted in massive individual wins. One of those triumphs came from Emi Krishnamurthy, who was locked in a five-game thriller against Johanile Hurtado at the fifth flight. After taking the first game, Krishnamurthy dropped the second but responded with a win in the third. Hurtado then grabbed the fourth game by an 11-8 decision before Krishnamurthy reversed that tally to the tune of an 11-8 win in the decisive fifth.
Shreya Singh, also taking to the courts in team competition for the final team, and Maisie Smith gave the Fords their other two match wins at the sixth and seventh flights. Singh shook off a second game loss to respond in four against the Camels' Birgitta Quinn and Smith dropped the first game to Crystal Dixon before responding with three consecutive wins surrendering just nine total points in those three triumphs.
The Fords will now take the No. 27 ranking into the offseason by virtue of the victory. The ranking is the highest year-end ranking for the program since the 2005-06 season, an era where there were considerably less varsity programs in the national landscape.
With the team season now concluded, the Fords will await the pairings for the CSA Individual Championships, which open on Friday in Philadelphia, with the Arlen Specter U.S. Squash Center serving as host for the annual event.