Princeton University
Penn
Players Mentioned
Late Surge Pushes Women's Squash To 6-3 Win At Penn
February 01, 2006 | Women's Squash
Feb. 2, 2006
PHILADELPHIA - Facing a pressure situation with the team match tied 3-3, Claire Rein-Weston, Gen Lessard and Carly Grabowski knew that they needed to pull out two victories between them to clinch the team match. Just to be safe, they got all three to help keep No. 4 Princeton undefeated and pull out a 6-3 win at No. 5 Penn.
The third session began 3-3, but Lessard and Grabowski both went out and earned 3-0 wins to clinch the team match. Rein-Weston followed with a 3-1 win of her own.
"Gen played very strong against Caitlin Russell," head coach Gail Ramsay said. "She really stepped up her game and hit pretty accurate shots to keep her opponent off balance. She played her short game well and her whole attack game got going after the first game."
Ramsay was equally impressed by Grabowski, who didn't let an injury break in her match deter her efforts. She closed the match with a 9-2 win to secure the match for the Tigers.
The final score ended 6-3 thanks to a comeback from Princeton's No. 1 player. Rein-Weston, who withdrew from last weekend's Constable Invitational with an illness and hasn't practiced mush this week, started slow and trailed in the opening game 8-1. She got back within one point before falling 9-7.
"When she went back on the court, her focus was much better," Ramsay said. "She was quicker to the 'T' and overpowered Alisha [Turner]. Her court coverage was exceptional. She made some incredible gets over the course of the match."
Princeton opened the match with a 2-1 lead on wins by No. 6 Marilla Hiltz and No. 9 Maggie O'Toole. "I thought Marilla kept the pressure on with her deep drives and she followed up by cutting off the open balls produced by her good length and width quite effectively," Ramsay said. "She got down in the second game 7-4, but she came back to win it and really got on a roll after that."
O'Toole was facing a familiar opponent in Elizabeth Kern, whom she defeated last weekend at the Constable Invitational. O'Toole was more aggressive Wednesday and won three decisive games to earn a comfortable win.
Princeton got its third win of the day from No. 8 Christina Fast. The Tigers will need to be at their best when they welcome No. 1 and defending champion Yale to the Jadwin Squash Courts this Saturday at 1:00.
Princeton 6, Penn 3
1. Claire Rein-Weston (PR) def. Alisha Turner, 3-1 (7-9, 9-5, 9-6, 9-3
2. Paula Pearson (P) def. Casey Riley, 3-0 (10-9, 10-4, 10-7)
3. Radhika Ahluwalia (P) def. Lena Neufeld, 3-1 (10-8, 4-9, 9-6, 10-8)
4. Gen Lessard (PR) def. Caitlin Russell, 3-0 (10-9, 9-4, 9-2)
5. Tara Chawla (P) def. Margaret Kent, 3-0 (9-7, 9-4, 9-7)
6. Marilla Hiltz (PR) def. Lauralynn Drury, 3-0 (9-5, 10-9, 9-0)
7. Carly Grabowski (PR) def. Emily Goodwin, 3-0 (9-0, 9-5, 9-2)
8. Christina Fast (PR) def. Meggie Kempner, 3-0 (9-2, 9-0, 9-5)
9. Maggie O'Toole (PR) def. Elizabeth Kern, 3-0 (9-2, 9-0, 9-5)
10. Aly Brady (PR) def. Chloe Wynne, 3-0 (9-1, 9-3, 9-5)
11. Anina Nolan (PR) def. Anita Sellers, 3-0 (9-2, 9-0, 9-3)
12. Rebecca Perlman (PR) def. Allie Friedman, 3-0 (9-0, 9-3, 9-0)