Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Trinity
Players Mentioned
Leizman Thriller Sends Women's Squash To Thrilling 5-4 Win Over Trinity
February 20, 2016 | Women's Squash
Really, though, the Tigers accomplished so much more.
The third-ranked Tigers pulled out a 5-4 thriller over fourth-ranked Trinity to grab as much momentum and confidence as possible going into the biggest weekend of the season. Remember, this is a team that came closer than anybody to upsetting Harvard at the Howe Cup last season, and they knocked off Penn for third place one day later.
This team knows how to peak when it matters most, and it certainly looks like it has hit that stage again.
Princeton split the first shift and won three of five in the second shift to pull out the win. Fittingly, the last player on the court was senior Rachel Leizman, a four-year starter for Princeton who once pulled out a heroic five-game win over Harvard to help win the 2013 Ivy League championship.
Leizman dropped the opener, but battled back for wins of 11-3 and 11-9. At the same time, freshmen teammates Samantha Chai and Isabel Hirshberg were picking up wins at No. 7 and No. 9, respectively, to set the table for Leizman.
And the senior took care of business, just as classmate Tara Harrington did earlier in the afternoon. Leizman outlasted Julia Le Coq for a close 11-9 win in the fourth to secure the team win.
Fittingly, it was Harrington who got the ball rolling. She played one of the best matches of her career for a 3-1 comeback win over Alexis Echeverria, and junior All-American Maria Elena Ubina followed that up with a 3-2 win at the No. 2 spot. After dropping the fourth game, Ubina won the fifth 11-5 to give Princeton at least two wins in the first shift.
Sophomores Lindsey Scott (#4) and Kira Keating (#6) both had hard-fought matches early, but each lost a 14-12 game and eventually fell 3-1.
Chai won a 14-12 game of her own and carried that through for a win at No. 7, and classmate Hirshberg started to claw back from an early deficit at No. 9. She won 11-9 and 11-6 to break free from a 2-0 hole, and closed in style with an 11-1 win.
Sophomores Olivia Fiechter and Alexandra Toth both lost matches, though Fiechter put up a terrific fight against two-time CSA finalist Kanzy El Defrawy. Fiechter was within two points in each of the first two games, but couldn't quite get over the hump.
That left it for Leizman, and she was spectacular. The senior gave her team a flying start into the Howe Cup with her 9-11,11-3,11-9,11-9 win.
Check back later this week for a full preview of the 2016 Howe Cup Championships, which will be held at Yale Feb. 26-28.
TIGER THOUGHTS
Head coach Gail Ramsay
I was thrilled to see the team play so well today! I thought we were closely matched. We were able to pull out five matches, and I think on another day we could have found a couple more W's. Rachel put in an impressive, pressured performance. She knew it was up to her to pull it out and she played a near-perfect tactical match! What a great way to close out her dual match career … I am so happy for her.
Senior Tara Harrington
This is really bittersweet. It's been four years playing the sport I love, and I'm so happy I had the opportunity to win my last home match. It took me a game to get settled. There's not a better feeling than when I win, the whole team wins and it's my last match. I couldn't ask for a better way to end my career at home. I'm so proud of how everyone played.
Freshman Isabel Hirshberg
Today was an awesome day to be a Tiger! I could not imagine a better last match for our seniors. All of our seniors won today and every other player fought until the last point of each of their matches. Trinity is definitely great competition for us, and great preparation for next weekend.
PRINCETON 5, TRINITY 4
1 – Kanzy El Defrawy (T) d. Olivia Fiechter 11, 9, 7
2 – Maria Elena Ubina (P) d. Raneem Sharaf (9), 7, 9, (1), 5
3 – Rachel Leizman (P) d. Julia Le Coq (11), 3, 9, 9
4 – Anna Kimberley (T) d. Lindsey Scott (7), 9, 12, 7
5 – Salma El Defrawy (T) d. Alexandra Toth 8, 5, 9
6 – Jennifer Haley (T) d. Kira Keating (9), 2, 5, 12
7 – Samantha Chai (P) d. Sachika Balvani 12, 5, 8
8 – Tara Harrington (P) d. Alexia Echeverria (7), 9, 5, 6
9 – Isabel Hirshberg (P) d. Karolina Holinkova (3), (6), 9, 6, 1