NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- In the title match, No. 17 and top-seeded Amherst College women's squash bested Franklin & Marshall, 8-1, on Sunday morning to secure the programs fifth College Squash Association (CSA) National Team Championship Walker Cup crown at the Brady Squash Center.
Amherst cements their 2019-20 season with a 14-6 overall record and will await the CSA Individual competition in two weeks to end the season.
"The team showed tremendous fight, unity and drive this entire weekend" said Amherst Squash interim head coach
Stuart George. "We showed that we have quality in every position 1 to 9 and that when we're in form, we are a force to be reckoned with."
Aside from the one match the Diplomats won on the morning, Amherst won in straight-sets or 3-1 triumphs in the final eight matches.
Dueling Audrey Berling for the top spot, Daksha Pathak '23 went up early with an 11-5 win in the opening set before Berling responded with an 11-7 win in the second. In a grueling third set, Pathak pulled off the 17-15 win and finished the match with an 11-4 win in the fourth.
Following up with a 3-1 win of her own at #2, Lauren Weil '23 downed Emily Knapp 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4 before Lilly Soroko '22 swept Emily Bartos in straight-sets at #3 (11-8, 11-8, 11-7).
Caroline Conway '20 dropped the opening set against Katherine Galambos (9-11), before the Mammoth pulled off 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 triumphs in the ensuing sets.
Riddhi Sampat '21 bested Samira Snakaran 11-4, 11-6, 11-8 at #5, while Pierson Klein '20 responded from an 11-2 loss in her first set to win 3-1 (2-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9) over Pratiksha Mishra .
Katy Sabina Correia '20 went up 2-0 against Grace Smith (11-5, 11-4) before the Diplomat claimed the third set 11-5. Winning another match for Amherst, Correia solidified the 3-1 win with an 11-5 decision in the fourth.
In the last match on the day, Keeley Osborn '22 held Vanessa Lucero to five points or fewer in each set to win 11-5, 11-1, 11-5.
The only win for the Diplomats came at #7 as Zoe Quayle won 3-2 (9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 10-12).
"I am very proud of how the women have dealt with this season with many changes and transitions" George finished. "They took it in their stride and finished the season strong with 3 wins in the Cup."
