After Harvard came out on the winning side of a narrow 5-4 match against Trinity just two weeks ago, it was no surprise to anyone that it took another nailbiting finish between the two teams to determine a winner at the College Squash Association’s National Women’s Team Championships.

This time, however, the Crimson (14-1, 7-0 Ivy) fell just short in its bid for a third straight national title. Top-seeded Harvard lost to the Bantams, 5-4, in a whirlwind match that saw four contests go to five games and came down to the last match to crown a national champion. After going undefeated in the regular season, the defeat in the finals marked Harvard’s only loss this year.

“We have no regrets,” co-captain Natasha Anzik said. “We had some really good matches. Trinity’s a really good team, and I think we rose to the challenge and played really well. That’s really all you can ask for, just to give it your best.”

TRINITY 5, HARVARD 4

A year after Harvard defended its 2012 title with a 5-4 win over the Bantams, Trinity flipped the script with a 5-4 win of its own. The victory gave the Bantams its third national championship, and first since winning back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.

After wins by junior Amanda Sobhy and freshman Dileas MacGowan helped Harvard crawl out of a 4-2 deficit and tie the match up at four wins apiece, all eyes turned to the one match still in progress. Sophomore Saumya Karki went up with a win in the first set, but Trinity freshman Anna Kimberley calmly worked her way back to take a 2-1 lead.

With alternating cheers of “Let’s go, Anna!” and “Let’s go, Saumya!” echoing through Jadwin Gymnasium at Princeton, Kimberley and Karki started what would become the decisive game. The two traded points back-and-forth, but after a Karki boast missed its mark, Kimberley took an 8-5 lead that would prove insurmountable.

A kill from Kimberley later in the game gave her a 10-8 advantage and two match ball opportunities. Despite a strong shot from Karki to close the lead to one point, Kimberley held on and took the fourth set, 11-9, to win the game, the match, and the national title for the Bantams.