An exciting weekend of competition at Yale ended in heartbreak last Sunday morning for the Amherst women’s squash team. The purple and white were dethroned as two-time Walker Cup Champions in the final match against their NESCAC opponent, Bates. The contest was a close one, with Amherst falling 5-4. Amherst had previously bested the Bobcats at the Pioneer Valley Invitational in January, a match that ended in a resounding 7-2 victory for the purple and white.

In their first couple matches of the Walker Cup, Amherst coasted past their opponents, and showcased just how much depth they had. In the first round, Amherst prevailed 8-1 against Tufts, with six different Amherst players posting sweeps against their opponents. They built on their momentum from this decisive opener, and continued their dominance in the second round.

This time against Colby, all but two players swept their competition en route to a perfect record on the day. This victory improved their record to 11-5 on the year before their final match against Bates.

And what a final match it was. Amherst women’s squash battled it out against a Bobcat roster fueled by redemption. Haley McAtee ’18 exemplified the fighting spirit of the purple and white despite her narrow loss a match against Emma Dunn of the Bobcats. Senior captains Taryn Clary and Khushy Aggarwal ended their careers on high notes with key wins. The other wins of the matchup came as a result of strong performances from Mae Cromwell ’18 and Priya Sunha ’19.

“I think today we lost some of that focus that really helped us on the first two days,” Kim Krayacich ’18 said. “Bates was definitely a determined team, and even though the loss was upsetting we know we gave it our all.”

As their season comes to a close, the Amherst women have shown tremendous grit and talent. Graduating seniors Clary, Aggarwal, Corri Johnson, Rebecca Pol and Ericka Robertson have each made a significant impact in their time donning the purple and white, and were integral to the success and leadership that has thus far characterized the 2016 season.

The underclassmen will get their chance to represent the program as they move on to the individual post-season stage. So far, McAtee and Krayacich have secured their spots, but the possibility remains for several other women to continue their seasons. They will contend for postseason glory at Chelsea Piers in Stamford, Connecticut on March 4, 5 and 6.