NEW YORK, N.Y. - The No. 6 University of Pennsylvania women's squash team has come up big in the pressure moments this season. That proved to be the case on Sunday once again. For the sixth time this season, the Quakers won by the score of 5-4 - only this time, No. 7 Columbia was the victim and
Clare Kearns played hero, winning in dramatic, 3-2 fashion.
How it Happened
For the most part of this season, it was been the top of the Red and Blue lineup that has come through for the Quakers. Sunday, it was the other way around.
Reeham Salah and
Jessica Davis each came through at one and two with, 3-0, victories, but Penn came up short in the three through five slots.
Julia Buchholz lost, 3-1, at number four, losing the final two games after evening the match at 1-1.
Lindsay Stanley then fell at five, 3-2. The junior led, 2-1, but lost the fourth game, 11-5 to force a fifth. Stanley, who has played a large role in many of the team's wins this season, fell 11-7 in the decider.
Haley Scott had an impressive comeback in her match. After losing the first two games, the sophomore rallied back which included winning a tense, 13-11 fourth game to head to a fifth game. Scott went on to take the fifth, 11-9, to win her second match since she returned this season.
At eight,
Nicole Windreich recorded an impressive, 3-0, victory, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-3.
Tied at four matches apiece, it would come down to the racquet of
Clare Kearns to get the victory on the road for Penn. Being down to this situation was no stranger for the Quakers. Penn had won, 5-4, on Friday against Cornell and won by the same score over Brown, Virginia, Stanford, and Drexel.
Against Stanford, it was
Jamila Tamer who won in five games to defeat the Cardinal. Stanley lifted Penn in wins over Drexel, Virginia, and Cornell. Sunday afternoon would be Kearns' time to shine.
The junior had played some tough matches this season, but it all built to this moment. Kearns took the early advantage, taking the opening game 11-6 to go up 1-0. The two players then traded 11-6 games as Kearns took a 2-1 lead and seemed in control. However, on the road, the win would not come easy. The junior lost the fourth, 11-8, as the two players headed to a fifth and final game.
Despite being on the road and playing on Columbia's senior day, Kearns took command early in the fifth and point by point she built a lead. With a drop-winner on the left side wall, Kearns took the deciding game, 11-4, to give the Quakers their sixth, 5-4 win of the season.
What's Next
The Quakers will prepare for Team Championships next weekend at Yale.
Full Results
1.
Reeham Salah (PENN) d. Madlen O'Connor (COL) - 11-4, 11-8, 11-4
2.
Jessica Davis (PENN) d. Nicole Kendall (COL) - 11-7, 11-5, 11-8
3. Habiba Mohamed (COL) d.
Jamila Tamer (PENN) - 11-6, 11-3, 11-3
4. Jui Kalgutkar (COL) d.
Julia Buchholz (PENN) - 13-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5
5. Jane Pincus (COL) d.
Lindsay Stanley (PENN) - 11-8, 6-11, 2-11, 11-5, 11-7
6.
Clare Kearns (PENN) d. Doria Chen (COL) - 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4
7.
Haley Scott (PENN) d. Julia Masch (COL) - 7-11, 9-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-9
8.
Nicole Windreich (PENN) d. Pranjali Sharma (COL) - 11-8, 11-7, 11-3
9. Diana Masch (COL) d.
Margaret Frantz (PENN) - 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9
10 (EXH) - Tara Dugel (COL) d.
Mikaela Salvesen-Quinn - 11-7, 11-4, 11-3
