NEW HAVEN, CT -- Franklin & Marshall College's Freddy McNeely (Fr., Newton Square, PA/Hill School) recorded her third victory in as many days, but Connecticut College used victories at in the #2-4 matches to record a 5-4 win over F&M in the consolation finals of the 2004 Howe Cup national team championships.

McNeely, who entered the tournament with an 11-4 record, improved her season mark to 14-4 courtesy a 3-0 win over Connecticut's Anna Bullard at #1. Earlier in the tournament, she defeated Wellesley's Lila Lee 3-0 (9-4, 9-6, 9-1) and Wesleyan's Sa Suwanarat 3-0 (9-3, 9-4, 9-3) as the Diplomats competed for the third division's Walker Cup.

Overall, she has recorded the best collegiate start for an F&M freshman women's squash player since Katharine Stickney tallied a 12-4 record in 1997.

However, Connecticut picked up wins at #2, 3, 4, 7 and 9 to take the victory and receive the #21 national ranking, while F&M concludes the season #22.

The key to the match was the Camels' play in marathon matches as Emily Sedhis defeated Jessie Mitchell (Fr., Devonshire, Bermuda/Canterbury School) 3-2 (9-6, 4-9, 7-9, 9-1, 9-1) at #2 and Rachel Caplin knocked off Alexandra Briggs (Fr., Norwalk, CT) 3-2 (9-1, 9-4, 7-9, 3-9, 9-1) at #9 in the deciding matches.

The Diplomats had a strong showing at #5, 6 and 8 as the team earned victories. At #5, Mo Coogan (Sr., Millbrook, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) defeated Cynthia Whitman 3-2 (9-7, 4-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-1), while Liz Denenberg (So., Wilmington, DE/Sanford School) coasted past Lucy Arnold 3-0 (9-4, 9-2, 9-0).

Barbara Bee (Fr., Millersville, PA/Penn Manor) rounded out the Diplomat victors as she downed Caitlin Ruane 3-1 (9-1, 9-4, 4-9, 9-3) at #8.

Administered by the College Squash Association, the Howe Cup was named at its inception in 1973 in honor of the famous Howe sisters, Betty Howe Constable and Margaret Howe, who between them dominated American women's squash throughout the decade of the 1950's, during which they won seven of the 10 Women's Nationals.

Prior to the 2003 season, the entire end-of-season "play-offs" had been under the aegis of the Howe Cup, which for the past five years has been comprised of four divisions (A, B, C and D).

Beginning with the 2002-2003 season, only the top eight ranked teams competed for the Howe Cup, emblematic of the national championship, with three other eight-team tournaments, the Aggie Kurtz Cup, the Dale Walker Cup and the Patty Epps Cup, honoring distinguished women's head coaches at Dartmouth, Yale and Franklin & Marshall respectively, reserved for the Nos. 9-16, 17-24 and 25-32 ranked teams. All four events are run as straight draws, though there are consolations and "back" draws to determine specific 1-8 placement in each flight.

Last season, Franklin & Marshall made history by defeating the University of Rochester, George Washington University, Stanford University and Smith College to win the inaugural Patty Epps Cup and a #25 national ranking.

This year the Diplomats moved up a division, but fell to Wellesley (7-2 L) and defeated Wesleyan (5-4 W) to set up the consolation finals match with Connecticut College for the #21 national ranking.

McNeely and Mitchell will continue the season next weekend at the College Squash Association Women's Individual Championships at St. Lawrence University.

Box Score
Connecticut 5, F&M 4
1 - Freddy McNeely (F&M) def. Anna Bullard (CON) 3-0 (9-2, 9-6, 9-0)
2 - Emily Sedhis (CON) def. Jessie Mitchell (F&M) 3-2 (9-6, 4-9, 7-9, 9-1, 9-1)
3 - Emily Stief (CON) def. Minal Patel (F&M) 3-0 (9-5, 9-1, 9-4)
4 - Sage Shanby (CON) def. Karley Biggs (F&M) 3-1 (9-1, 4-9, 9-3, 9-0)
5 - Mo Coogan (F&M) def. Cynthia Whitman (CON) 3-2 (9-7, 4-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-1)
6 - Liz Denenberg (F&M) def. Lucy Arnold (CON) 3-0 (9-4, 9-2, 9-0)
7 - Alison Reed (CON) def. Carolyn Chang (F&M) 3-0 (9-1, 9-6, 9-1)
8 - Barbara Bee (F&M) def. Caitlin Ruane (CON) 3-1 (9-1, 9-4, 4-9, 9-3)
9 - Rachel Caplin (CON) def. Alexandra Briggs (F&M) 3-2 (9-1, 9-4, 7-9, 3-9, 9-1)