The first time around, the Crimson defeated the Bulldogs, 7-2, and, to add salt to the injury, claimed the Ivy League championship in the process. Yale was unable to stop Harvard once again, ceding a spot in the national championship game to the No. 1 team in the nation.
But the Bulldogs seem to have found a way to contain Guruge, as she fell for the second time this season to Alia Aziz. Guruge appeared to have momentum on her side after taking the first game, 11-8, but Aziz knew her opponent too well. The next two games allowed Aziz to gain confidence, winning a nail-biter in the second, 13-11, and soundly defeating Guruge in the third, 11-6. Guruge decided to return the favor with an 11-8 win in the fourth game, setting up a critical fifth game. Aziz held on for the win at the No. 2 spot, taking the last game with a score of 11-8.
“I lost to her the first time we faced Yale to win the Ivy League title,” Guruge said. “This time I extended it to five, but I still lost, so I hope to beat her next time if I play her at the individual tournament next weekend.”
Tiong also suffered a loss at the No. 3 spot, conceding defeat to Yale’s Sarah Toomey, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8.
Even though the Crimson fell twice, the team was never in danger of dropping the matchup. Harvard swept four opponents, including Gemmell’s usual 3-0 win at the No. 1 spot, and also comfortably won at No. 6 by a 3-1 margin. Junior Bethan Williams overcame a loss at the No. 9 spot to take the next three games, rounding out Harvard’s day before the title game.
HARVARD 9, WILLIAMS 0
With the pressures of a first-round win to get things started, the Crimson accomplished its goal and more.
Harvard dismantled any threat that Williams attempted, beating all nine opponents in three sets, with the highest scoring game coming in the No. 5 spot, when Kingshott allowed the Eph’s Caroline Henry to score a mere seven points in the third game.
The matchup seemed to magnify the preparation Harvard undertook all season long and the quality of its players. No. 1 Gemmell once again didn’t seem to fret, swiftly defeating her opponents in three games, as she has done all season.
Guruge had an even easier time sweeping Williams’ Jennifer Coxe, considering that Coxe only managed to put up seven total points through three games. The other seven competitors also showed little sign of nerves in the win.
The CSA Individual Championships will take place next weekend in Hartford, Conn.
—Staff writer Brian A. Campos can be reached at bcampos@fas.harvard.edu.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
CORRECTION: March 1, 2010
The Mar. 1 sports article "Women's Squash Captures National Title" incorrectly stated that co-captain Johanna Snyder won her match by a score of 3-2 in the national championship match against University of Pennsylvania. In fact, the score was 3-1.