Freshman Emily Goodwin defeated Madeline Lurio 3-2 in the No. 8 spot to secure a victory for the Quakers over Dartmouth yesterday afternoon in Hanover, N.H.
It was one of only two matches on the day that went more than three sets. Junior co-captain Paula Pearson won the other, 3-1.
Freshmen Alisha Turner and Tara Chawla and sophomore Lauralynn Drury also won for the Quakers, as the women's squash team edged No. 6 Dartmouth 5-4.
"I think Emily won what turned what out to be the deciding match," Penn coach Jack Wyant said. "There was one swing match, and she was able to pull it out."
No. 5 Penn (8-3, 3-3 Ivy) returned to the win column after losing two in a row to top-four teams including Saturday's 6-3 loss to No. 2 Harvard in Boston.
Chawla and Goodwin won their matches against Harvard en route to a perfect weekend.
Wyant called Chawla's win, a 3-2 comeback thriller against Audrey Duboc after being down two-love, "a pretty gutsy performance."
What's important is "just regrouping and forgetting what already happened and starting over, thinking about what you need to do and not the games you've already lost," Chawla said.
Sophomore Elizabeth Kern, playing in the No. 9 spot, pulled out the only other win for Penn against the Crimson.
The results this weekend were a great improvement from the previous season, when the Quakers lost home matches to Dartmouth 6-3 and Harvard 8-1.
"We keep knocking on the door against these higher ranked teams," Wyant said.
Penn has caught up to Dartmouth, but still has a little way to go before being able to break into the top four.
Wyant stressed that these results have come despite the fact the Quakers are a young team with no seniors.
Penn's last match before the Howe Cup comes next Saturday in Hartford, Conn. against No. 3 Trinity.
"It's another opportunity for us to test ourselves against one of the most talented teams out there," Wyant said.
