Detter, Bantams Defeat Princeton in Dramatic Way

"The Streak is over." Those words were a single point away from holding true, as Princeton eyed what looked to be a win against Trinity on Wednesday.Heading into the final match against the third-ranked Tigers, it looked as if this would not be another undefeated season for the home team.

With only a lopsided contest remaining to decide which team would walk away victorious, Head Coach Paul Assaiante spoke for many when he recalled, "We were done." But just like the biblical tale, David toppled Goliath, and "The Streak" lives on.

In many ways, the circumstances leading up to that pivotal match might never have occurred. Tri-captain Yvain Badan '06 says, "As coach said during the team meeting following the Feb. 1 home match, 'We had a few fantastic games . and a few horrendous [ones].'"

From early in the season, Coach Assaiante did not expect his number-one player to win every match against the nation's top individuals, and he counted on his team's depth to compensate.

Even though players like Eduardo Pereira '07 and Sahil Vora '07 stepped up their games in very strong wins, unexpected losses at the bottom of the ladder contributed to the night's building drama.

The pivotal number-two match-up, featuring Trinity's Shaun Johnstone '07, could have put Trinity up 5-3 overall with a win.

Johnstone built a one-game lead (4-9, 9-4, 9-1) but ultimately let the victory slip away. His opponent never gave Johnstone a chance to put him away and defeated him in the last two games 3-9, 2-9 for the win.

The match was now in the hands of freshman standout Gustav Detter '09. While Detter had earned the top spot on the team with his great play and maturity as a freshman, his opponent seemed too exceptional for Trinity to have a chance.

The nation's top-ranked player, Princeton's Yasser El-Halaby had suffered only a single defeat in his run as the three-time Intercollegiate National Champion. Coach Assaiante did not enjoy placing Detter in such a difficult situation, but the Trinity number one was ready to compete.

"I was very nervous going into the match because I did not expect it would be me that would decide the match," says Detter. "I did not think I would win, but my main focus was to perform my absolute best performance and to stay calm." Against all odds, however, the Bantams never lost hope.

El-Halaby took an early lead by securing the first game, 7-9, but the crowd rallied to the home team's cause. The Princeton tri-captain seized the second game, 5-9, before building a 6-8 advantage in the third.

Despite this lead, his confidence seemed shaken. Spending more time looking at the judges than at the ball, El-Halaby did not display the ability to finish matches that Coach Assaiante recalls him having throughout his career.

Seeing an opportunity as his opponent faltered, Detter stole the third game 10-8. "After the two games, I felt I could win [the match]," says Detter. "[El-Halaby] became tired and I became stronger. I was in a zone."

With the crowd's energy building on every point, Detter played flawlessly through the final rally. He won the last two games, 9-1, 9-2, dropping to his knees as his teammates swarmed the court and wrapped him in the Swedish flag to honor his homeland as so many Olympians have done.

The victory produced a new challenge for team: gearing up quickly for another top matchup against second-ranked Harvard.

Badan stated between matches, "We are a little caught up in this happy cloud, but we need to take care of our bodies and get mentally ready again, because Harvard will be just as hard on Saturday."

Coach Assaiante agreed but admitted there was "little [the team] could do" over the next two days to remain focused.

The match against Harvard, however, put the worries of Coach Assaiante to rest. Rather than coming out flat, Trinity again took advantage of playing at home and looked as sharp as ever, dropping only six out of 30 games. The Bantams dominated in the international battle, cruising to an 8-1 victory.

Vora (9-0, 9-2, 9-2) and Pereira (9-0, 9-3, 9-0) led the way, while Manek Mathur '09 played well, winning 9-0, 9-1, 9-6. Coach Assaiante was proud of his team, saying, "To be as dominant as we were today was pretty special."

Over the next two weeks, Trinity will finally get a chance to rest and regroup. This weekend, they host the NESCAC Tournament, which serves as an opportunity for Coach Assaiante to rest his best players by playing lower spots on the roster. The team also has a doubleheader on Feb. 14 against Tufts and Brown, again at home.

Ultimately, the wins over Princeton and Harvard served as more than just extensions of Trinity's win streak (now at 136 matches). The Bantams will likely move on to the CSA Team Championship (beginning Feb. 17) as the top seed, playing either Princeton or Harvard after their bye week. With momentum and confidence, Trinity has every reason to expect another victory. As Vora states, "This is what Trinity squash is all about: heart, courage and most importantly an insatiable desire to win.