Completed Event: Women's Squash versus Williams on February 11, 2026 , Win , 8, to, 1
Final
Women's Squash
vs Williams
8
1
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A GREAT MAINE WEEKEND!
1/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Squash
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Dartmouth Big Green men's and women's team made three stops and each team played four matches in the inaugural MAINE INVITATIONAL. The weekend had a great mix of teams from California (Stanford) and New York (Rochester), Massachusetts (Williams), New Hampshire (Dartmouth) and naturally the three Maine schools Bowdoin, Bates and Colby.
The Big Green took on the greatest challenge by taking on four teams within the three day stretch. The weekend began with a Friday evening match at the beautiful new five court facility in Lewiston (Dartmouth men and women inaugurated the center exactly two years ago). Particularly with the men, we knew it would be a battle, and indeed it was. Interim head coach Marc Kannegieser had his boys primed for an upset and they were ready for battle. With two matches going to five games and another to four it was certainly a confrontation that could have gone either way. Fortunately the Big Green came out on top 7-2, winning all the close ones and dropping a 3-0 match to #1 Ricardo Wiesskopf and another to the talented freshman Kush Mahan at position #3.
Simultaneously our women were doing battle with a much improved Bates team. The “Green” women dropped one at #4 and had three tough five games wins at 5, 6 and 8 to finish with an 8-1 victory. It certainly was a good wake up call for our women, they now knew that they wouldn't be able to take any of these Maine schools for granted.
Saturday proved to be a little easier for the travelling Dartmouth team. Early in the morning it was a good hearty breakfast and down the road to Waterville where Colby was waiting for us. Indeed it was the first time a Dartmouth team had ventured this far north, but the congenial hosting by Saki Khan and his teams was worth the trip. However the Big Green weren't quite as kind as they departed south to Brunswick and Bowdoin with consecutive 9-0 victories. Two hours later the team was back on court against the Polar Bears. This match wasn't quite as easy. Their women stole a match at the top of the ladder as Christie Alexander's knee gave out and she had to default her match. The men were battling away on adjacent courts and finished 9-0, but not before our bottom six players were pushed either to four or five games.
These three matches were just the prelude to the fireworks which would happen Sunday morning prior to our departure back to Hanover. The men were scheduled to go on at the ungodly hour of 8:45 against a much improved Rochester team. The upstate New York Yellow Jackets came ready for bear after defeating the very tough Bobcats the evening before. Rochester now boasts head coach Martin Heath (brother of former Dartmouth Assistant David) who has now retired from full-time competition where, at his prime he rose to #4 in the world ? not bad for for someone from Oban, Scotland. With his international contacts he now proudly presents four world class underclassmen from Finland, Canada and England. As well his diverse group includes players from Pakistan and Japan.
As expected, their top four dominated, not losing a game to Boumford, Newhouse, King and Lewis. The real battle would come at the back of the ladder and the Big Green needed wins at every position to secure victory. As expected our bottom four ? Wagman, Preefer, Young and Schroeder rolled through with only freshman Stephen Preefer dropping his first game before rolling to victory. There now was only the #5 position left on court to decide who would go home with the win. It didn't look good for the Hanover boys as Bermudian Michael Shrubb went down 2-0 to the very hard working Yohay Wakabayaski. Michael who had scraped by in five the day before against Bowdoin was visibly tired and somewhat dejected but his courageous spirit seemed to take over and changed the momentum taking the next two games 9-2 and 9-4. Just one game was remaining to decide his match and indeed the final outcome for the full encounter. Both boys were performing on just fumes as they had been battling each other for close to an hour. Yohay took the early momentum on great hustle and a few unforced errors by the Dartmouth sophomore. He stood at 8-4 with match ball and apparent victory at hand. “Shrubby” was not prepared to give it to him without a fight and began his comeback. It went back and forth several times with the Yellow Jacket #5 having at least four match balls. But it just wasn't to be; Michael was playing his 10th game in less than 15 hours and unbelievably found the guts and energy to pull even and win in overtime 10-8. The noise around the Bowdoin Squash Center was deafening and the elated Dartmouth team was going home with four wins and presumably a place in the league's top eight.
Coaches, Power and Weins wondered if they could stand any more pressure and tension with the women's team readying themselves to take on the 6th ranked Stanford Cardinals. Again their opposition featured very strong players at the top of the order. National intercollegiate champion Lilly Lorentzen at #1 and US Junior Team member at the two spot were going to be hard to beat and the rest of the west coast team had been well prepared by US squash legend Mark Talbott. Christie, still favouring her injured knee kept in close with Lorentzen for the first game but just couldn't sustain the fast pace. Talented Manitoba senior Ashley Malenchak surprised Brewster in the first game winning 9-4, but unfortunately the speed and grittiness of the Brooklyn native took over, winning the final three games 9-7, 9-6 and 9-4. The battle was on: the much improved Danielle Fuschetti cruised at position #9 as did freshman Hannah Conant. Number six, Libbey Brown came out nervously, dropping the first game to senior Brooks Riley 9-1, but after some calming effect provided by coach Weins the Maryland sophomore dominated the remainder of the match 0, 2 and 6. Stanford pulled ahead with wins over first year players Taylor Tully and Maura Doherty playing in the seven/eight spots. The mercurial Madeline Lurio at #4 was again playing her up and down game. She dropped the first to the very athletic Cecilia Haig 9-3, found her touch in the next two, winning 9-1, 9-5, went to sleep again losing the fourth 9-3. Realizing the importance of her match and responding to the support of her team mates she bore down in the fifth, claiming it 9-5.
Like the men the whole thing came to the final match on court. The aging Coach Power no doubt was adding another 10 years very quickly. Rebecca Loucks, captain and senior had to take on the diminutive and highly ranked Samantha Buechner, Stanford's number three player. It was a battle the whole way. The first three games went to overtime with Becca notching the final two. One more game was required to secure victory for her and the team. On a few untimely drop shot errors by Loucks the match would go into the fifth. The final game started and most of the cheers were coming from the Dartmouth bench. Becca was playing perfect squash and roared to a 7-0 lead, two points away. The unflappable Rhode Islander Buecher hit a couple of excellent dying lengths, an excellent backhand drop and was now closing the gap. The Dartmouth #3, now physically tired and beginning to lose some confidence battled hard but it was now 7 all, everything was resting on the final two points. Rebecca got back the serve but couldn't capitalize. The advantage went back to the Cardinal freshman who quickly closed out the match.
It was a dejected Dartmouth team, so close to causing the upset, but at the same time knowing that they had given their ultimate and should be proud. With any luck these two very good teams will meet in the end of year Howe Cup and do battle again.
Certainly it was a memorable three days for the big Green. The excitement won't let up as this week they will be heading south to take on Amherst, Trinity and Yale ? life doesn't get any easier!
 |
| Hannah Conant |
The Big Green took on the greatest challenge by taking on four teams within the three day stretch. The weekend began with a Friday evening match at the beautiful new five court facility in Lewiston (Dartmouth men and women inaugurated the center exactly two years ago). Particularly with the men, we knew it would be a battle, and indeed it was. Interim head coach Marc Kannegieser had his boys primed for an upset and they were ready for battle. With two matches going to five games and another to four it was certainly a confrontation that could have gone either way. Fortunately the Big Green came out on top 7-2, winning all the close ones and dropping a 3-0 match to #1 Ricardo Wiesskopf and another to the talented freshman Kush Mahan at position #3.
Simultaneously our women were doing battle with a much improved Bates team. The “Green” women dropped one at #4 and had three tough five games wins at 5, 6 and 8 to finish with an 8-1 victory. It certainly was a good wake up call for our women, they now knew that they wouldn't be able to take any of these Maine schools for granted.
Saturday proved to be a little easier for the travelling Dartmouth team. Early in the morning it was a good hearty breakfast and down the road to Waterville where Colby was waiting for us. Indeed it was the first time a Dartmouth team had ventured this far north, but the congenial hosting by Saki Khan and his teams was worth the trip. However the Big Green weren't quite as kind as they departed south to Brunswick and Bowdoin with consecutive 9-0 victories. Two hours later the team was back on court against the Polar Bears. This match wasn't quite as easy. Their women stole a match at the top of the ladder as Christie Alexander's knee gave out and she had to default her match. The men were battling away on adjacent courts and finished 9-0, but not before our bottom six players were pushed either to four or five games.
 |
| Christie Alexander |
These three matches were just the prelude to the fireworks which would happen Sunday morning prior to our departure back to Hanover. The men were scheduled to go on at the ungodly hour of 8:45 against a much improved Rochester team. The upstate New York Yellow Jackets came ready for bear after defeating the very tough Bobcats the evening before. Rochester now boasts head coach Martin Heath (brother of former Dartmouth Assistant David) who has now retired from full-time competition where, at his prime he rose to #4 in the world ? not bad for for someone from Oban, Scotland. With his international contacts he now proudly presents four world class underclassmen from Finland, Canada and England. As well his diverse group includes players from Pakistan and Japan.
As expected, their top four dominated, not losing a game to Boumford, Newhouse, King and Lewis. The real battle would come at the back of the ladder and the Big Green needed wins at every position to secure victory. As expected our bottom four ? Wagman, Preefer, Young and Schroeder rolled through with only freshman Stephen Preefer dropping his first game before rolling to victory. There now was only the #5 position left on court to decide who would go home with the win. It didn't look good for the Hanover boys as Bermudian Michael Shrubb went down 2-0 to the very hard working Yohay Wakabayaski. Michael who had scraped by in five the day before against Bowdoin was visibly tired and somewhat dejected but his courageous spirit seemed to take over and changed the momentum taking the next two games 9-2 and 9-4. Just one game was remaining to decide his match and indeed the final outcome for the full encounter. Both boys were performing on just fumes as they had been battling each other for close to an hour. Yohay took the early momentum on great hustle and a few unforced errors by the Dartmouth sophomore. He stood at 8-4 with match ball and apparent victory at hand. “Shrubby” was not prepared to give it to him without a fight and began his comeback. It went back and forth several times with the Yellow Jacket #5 having at least four match balls. But it just wasn't to be; Michael was playing his 10th game in less than 15 hours and unbelievably found the guts and energy to pull even and win in overtime 10-8. The noise around the Bowdoin Squash Center was deafening and the elated Dartmouth team was going home with four wins and presumably a place in the league's top eight.
Coaches, Power and Weins wondered if they could stand any more pressure and tension with the women's team readying themselves to take on the 6th ranked Stanford Cardinals. Again their opposition featured very strong players at the top of the order. National intercollegiate champion Lilly Lorentzen at #1 and US Junior Team member at the two spot were going to be hard to beat and the rest of the west coast team had been well prepared by US squash legend Mark Talbott. Christie, still favouring her injured knee kept in close with Lorentzen for the first game but just couldn't sustain the fast pace. Talented Manitoba senior Ashley Malenchak surprised Brewster in the first game winning 9-4, but unfortunately the speed and grittiness of the Brooklyn native took over, winning the final three games 9-7, 9-6 and 9-4. The battle was on: the much improved Danielle Fuschetti cruised at position #9 as did freshman Hannah Conant. Number six, Libbey Brown came out nervously, dropping the first game to senior Brooks Riley 9-1, but after some calming effect provided by coach Weins the Maryland sophomore dominated the remainder of the match 0, 2 and 6. Stanford pulled ahead with wins over first year players Taylor Tully and Maura Doherty playing in the seven/eight spots. The mercurial Madeline Lurio at #4 was again playing her up and down game. She dropped the first to the very athletic Cecilia Haig 9-3, found her touch in the next two, winning 9-1, 9-5, went to sleep again losing the fourth 9-3. Realizing the importance of her match and responding to the support of her team mates she bore down in the fifth, claiming it 9-5.
 |
| Becca Loucks |
It was a dejected Dartmouth team, so close to causing the upset, but at the same time knowing that they had given their ultimate and should be proud. With any luck these two very good teams will meet in the end of year Howe Cup and do battle again.
Certainly it was a memorable three days for the big Green. The excitement won't let up as this week they will be heading south to take on Amherst, Trinity and Yale ? life doesn't get any easier!
Players Mentioned
PL
/ Women's SquashPL
/ Women's Squash
PL
/ Women's Squash
PL
/ Women's Squash
PL
/ Women's Squash
PL
/ Women's Squash
PL
/ Women's Squash
PL
/ Women's Squash
PL
/ Women's Squash
/ Men's Squash
/ Men's Squash
PL
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