Sophomore Nirasha Guruge fell in her semifinal battle against Yale but bounced back to defeat her opponent handily in the national championship match against Penn, helping the women's squash team to a 6-3 victory. The Crimson captured the Howe Trophy with the win

Pop the champagne bottles and let the celebration begin.

After finishing 12-0 on the season, the No. 1 Harvard women’s squash team embodied perfection as the squad went on to defeat No. 3 Penn, 6-3, to capture the national title at the College Squash Association’s Team Championships hosted by Yale.

This victory was a fitting ending to a season full of accolades, namely the Ivy League Title and the Barhite Award—a prize for the team with the best record in the nation.

The Crimson was refused the title last year when it lost a heartbreaking matchup to Princeton, 5-4. But this year, Harvard would not be denied. Having last won the title in 2001, the Crimson is finally bringing home the Howe Cup, squash’s illustrious trophy given to the best team in the nation.

“I’m still in a little bit of shock,” co-captain Johanna Snyder said. “But some of the emotions I’m feeling are excitement and relief. Definitely a ton and ton of excitement. We worked so hard for this. Nobody from last year’s team graduated, so everyone who was there got to experience the win this year.”

HARVARD 6, PENN 3

Harvard lived up to expectations, as it reached the final for the second year in a row. Penn, on the other hand, had to overcome higher-ranked Trinity in a close semifinal round that ended in a 5-4 win for the Quakers.

The Crimson knew that Penn was ready to avenge the 8-1 loss that it suffered earlier in the season, but Harvard had different plans.

Junior June Tiong started the day off by defeating the Quakers’ Sydney Scott, 3-0. Snyder followed that up with a 3-1 win at the No. 6 spot, ending her collegiate career with a perfect record this season. Fellow captain Katherine O’Donnell also recorded a win in a close 3-2 match with Christina Matthias.

Sophomore Nirasha Guruge rebounded from a loss the previous day to beat Nabilla Ariffin in four games. At the No. 1 position, freshman Laura Gemmell preserved her unbeaten record (11-0), coolly sweeping all three sets from Kristen Lange.

Freshman Natasha Kingshott also finished the season without a loss, after she pulled through a close matchup with Yarden Odinak, 3-2.

The season, full of highlights and accomplishments, came to a close for the three Harvard seniors, eliciting tears of joy from all the members of the team.

“As captain, I am proud of everyone on the team,” Snyder said. “It’s hard to come out there and play your best in these conditions. Everyone was mentally strong, and we played for each other, and that’s what got us this far.”

HARVARD 7, YALE 2

A fierce Ivy League rivalry was set up in the semifinals as Harvard faced Yale on enemy turf for the second time this season.