Squash Loses Final of Howe Cup, 5-4

The top-seeded Trinity women's squash team earned an impressive 14-1 record coming into the Howe Cup Tournament at Harvard's Murr Center, losing only in a tight match at Yale. Last weekend, over Trinity Days, the team found themselves up 4-3 against Yale and only the number one and four matches left to be decided. "We just need one more," Coach Wendy Bartlett said. But it never came. For the second time this season, Trinity came away with the loss against Yale -- and the Howe Cup slipped from their capable grasp.

With the championship match being played on three courts, members of the men's squash team and the loyal Bantam fan base of students and alumni filled the stands, cheering on each winning point and encouraging when encouragement was needed.

After the first four matches, the two Connecticut powerhouses were tied at two, as Lauren Polonich '08 downed the nation's number three player 3-1 in a stunning display of athleticism and talent, and senior co-captain Margot Kearney claimed the number nine game 3-0.

In the second round of matches, Isa Restrepo '06 dominated her first game 9-1 and managed to hold on to the next two games for a 3-0 win. Junior Fernanda Rocha easily dominated her Yale opponent to also gain a 3-0 decision.

With the Lady Bants now one match away from the Cup, the momentum began to shift back towards the Bulldogs as senior co-captain Larissa Stephenson '06 fell to Yale's Miranda Ranieri 3-1.

Going into the final two matches, it seemed unlikely two Yale seniors would hand over the championship without a battle.

The moment was all the more a nail biter as the Bantam's number one, Vaidehi Reddy '07, and number four Ashley Clackson '09 took to the courts at nearly the same time, posing a challenge to spectators and team members alike searching for real-time match updates.

Clackson went up early against Yale senior Amy Gross but lost the first game 9-4, while Reddy quickly fell behind Michelle Quibell 9-5. With concerned Trinity supporters pacing back and forth between courts, Clackson came back after a lost serve at game point to post a 9-5 equalizer and Reddy went down for a second straight game.

With the number one match looking one-sided, all eyes transfixed on court five and the battle blazing up between Clackson and Gross. But the pressure seemed to influence the freshman's performance going into the third game, as the experienced Gross capitalized with punishing boasts and drop shots. Trying vainly to fight her way back into the game amid a roar of Bantam support, Clackson lost the third 9-3.

Around the same time, Reddy promptly claimed her only game on Quibell 9-4.

As lets and Trinity errors began firing in all directions on court five, Clackson found herself behind early on, with Gross leading 3-0, then 5-2, and finally at match point 8-2.

As Gross defeated Clackson 9-2 and secured a third straight Howe Cup for the Bulldogs, the Bantam fan base that had loudly proclaimed its presence throughout the day stood silent, at a loss for words.