Fencers take down host Vassar at weekend invitational

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Haverford College men's and women's fencing teams competed at the Vassar (College) Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 13. The women's team defeated their hosts, 18-9, marking the program's first victory against Vassar on record. The men's team -- which defeated Vassar for the first time last season -- also took down Vassar, 14-13, for their second consecutive win against the Brewers. In a nailbiter finish, senior captain Andrew Bostick delivered the clinching point Sunday when the score was knotted at 13.

After their opener against the hosts, the women faced two tough Division I teams in Cornell and Sacred Heart, dropping both by the identical score of 18-9. Close losses to Tufts and to Eastern Women's Fencing Conference (EWFC) rivals City College of N.Y. and Stevens Tech finished the day for the women, but the young team gained valuable insight and experience that will help them challenge those schools for the conference championship later in the season.

The men opened strong against an always tough West Point team, taking down Army 15-12. After their victory over Vassar, losses on the day came against powerhouse Sacred Heart, 22-5, and to Middle Atllantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) rival Stevens Tech, 16-11. Rounding out the day were easy wins over MACFA varsities Hunter College and Yeshiva University, providing experience for a talented crop of walk-on freshmen.

Leading scorers on the day for the women were all sophomores, as Katie Elbert went 13-2 in the foil, sabriste Shannon Horn was 15-3, and Sarah Sofia was 12-6 in epee. Epeeist Elizabeth Peters led the freshmen women with a 7-11 record on the day.

The men were led by undefeated junior James Nieuwland, at 8-0, in the epee; leading scorers for sabre and foil were both freshmen, as sabrist Josh Nadel went 8-7, and foilist Max Findley topped the day at 14-2.

Results, women:
Haverford def. Vassar, 18-9
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 6-3
Sabre: 6-3

Cornell def. Haverford, 18-9
Foil: 7-2
Epee: 6-3
Sabre: 5-4

Sacred Heart def. Haverford, 18-9
Foil: 7-2
Epee: 6-3
Sabre: 5-4

Tufts def. Haverford, 16-11
Foil: 4-5
Epee: 7-2
Sabre: 5-4

City College of New York def. Haverford, 14-13
Foil: 4-5
Epee: 4-5
Sabre: 6-3

Stevens Tech def. Haverford, 17-10
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 5-4
Sabre: 6-3

Results, men:
Haverford def. West Point (Army), 15-12
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 5-4
Sabre: 4-5

Haverford def. Vassar, 14-13
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 5-4
Sabre: 3-6

Sacred Heart def. Haverford, 22-5
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 8-1
Sabre: 8-1

Stevens Tech def. Haverford 16-11
Foil: 3-6
Epee: 6-3
Sabre: 7-2

Haverford def. Yeshiva, 18-9
Foil: 9-0
Epee: 5-4
Sabre: 4-5

Haverford def. Hunter, 21-6
Foil: 9-0
Epee: 8-1
Sabre: 4-5