Crimson cruise to 83rd consecutive victory
By CSA Reporters 

Top seeds Harvard created history as they claimed a record sixth straight Howe Cup by winning the College Squash Association women’s Team Championship after beating No.2 seeds Princeton 6-1 in the final at Yale, with two rubbers not played once the result was confirmed.

The Howe Cup is coming back to Cambridge after top-ranked Harvard women’s squash beat No. 2 Princeton, 6-1, in the national championship match.

The Crimson (17-0, 7-0 Ivy) completed its fifth-straight undefeated season en route to its sixth consecutive national championship trophy. The match, held at Yale’s Brady Squash Center, resulted in the 83rd consecutive victory for Harvard, which stands as a CSA record.

Harvard earned its 20th Howe Cup after posting five straight points, starting with Hana Moataz at the third position. The sophomore’s 3-0 victory – and 14th win of the season – gave the Crimson a quick 1-0 lead. First-year Charlotte Orcutt added an impressive win at the ninth position to put her team on top 2-0.

Amina Yousry followed in her teammates footsteps, downing her opponent, 3-1, at the fourth spot. Co-captain Gina Kennedy’s shutout at the top pairing on the ladder put the Crimson on top, 4-0, and in a position to clinch.

Junior Hannah Craig was the deciding-point-winner, as she came away with the 3-0 victory at the seventh position to secure the match for Harvard.

Amelia Henley’s 3-0 decision at the second pairing brought the Crimson total to six before the match was called.

Harvard’s 2019-20 season ends with another national title in the trophy case and another win on the already impressive resume of Mike Way, the Gregory Lee ’87 and Russell Ball ’88 Endowed Coach for Harvard University, James Herscot ’58 Coach of Excellence.

Harvard Highlights
– Harvard finishes the season undefeated for the fifth straight season and improved its CSA-record winning streak to 83 matches.
– The Crimson is 28-2 in Howe Cup play under the leadership of Mike Way.
– The Crimson has won its past 16 matches at Yale’s Squash facility.
– Gina Kennedy, Amelia Henley, Eleonore Evans and Annika Engstrom became the fifth Harvard class to graduate with four Howe Cups.
– Amelia Henley ends her Harvard career with a perfect 52-0 record in dual-match play.
– Gina Kennedy ends her Harvard career on a 40-match winning streak.
– Women’s Squash finishes the season with a combined individual record of 139-12.
– Hannah Craig and Evans both completed perfect seasons, posting a 17-0 record in 2019-20.

Next Up
The team completed its regular season campaign, but members of the team are still set to compete in the Individual National Championships at Penn in two weeks. Draws and tournament information will be released the week of the tournament. 

2020 CSA National Collegiate Women’s Team Championships, Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Harvard 6 Princeton 1 (two rubbers not played):
Gina Kennedy def. Elle Ruggiero, 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-8)
Amelia Henley def. Raneem El Torky, 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-7)
Hana Moataz def. Emme Leonard, 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-9)
Amina Yousry def. Caroline Spahr, 3-1 (12-10, 12-10, 9-11, 11-0)
Eleonore Evans vs. Andrea Toth, DNP
M. Grace Doyle def. Maddie Chai, 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5)
Hannah Craig def. Morgan Steelman, 3-0 (11-4, 13-11, 11-5)
Evie Coxon vs Emily Rose, DNP
Charlotte Orcutt def. India Stephenson, 3-1 (11-3, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3) 

+ College Squash Association report to follow

Pictures by MICHAEL BELLO courtesy of College Squash Association