Women Outduel Lions in New York

The Harvard women’s fencing team will have lots to give thanks for this Thursday after their domination of Ivy foe Columbia in a 19-8 victory in New York. Their male counterparts, however, could not leash the Lions, losing a dishearteningly close 14-13 battle with the Ivy title defenders.

WOMEN

The women’s annihilation of their Columbia opposition is the Crimson’s first win over the Lions since the mid-1990s.

The Harvard women’s foil squad deflated Columbia in a 9-0 shutout behind the performances of co-captains Chloe Stinetorf and Anne Austin and freshman Emily Cross, all of whom went undefeated in the competition. After barely breaking the top half of the women’s foil rankings at the Penn State Garrett Open last weekend, Austin avenged her poor showing by smothering every opponent she faced.

“I learned from my mistakes in preseason, when it didn’t matter,” Austin said of her stellar redemption. “And I came to Columbia fencing my best.”The Lions epee team proved to be a stronger blockade to overcome, but the Crimson women were ready for the challenge, holding on to win 5-4. Emerging sophomore Precious Eboigbe went an impressive 1-1, while sophomore teammates Jasmine McGlade and Caitlan McLoon kept Harvard ahead, both going 2-1.

The saber squad mirrored their epee teammates, enabling the Crimson to again edge Columbia by a score of 5-4. The team was paced by freshman Carolyn Wright, who ripped through all her challengers, most notably including Emma Baratta, one of the top U.S. saber fencers.Harvard’s strong season opening is just what the women need to springboard into upcoming competitions against Princeton and the threat of the defending Ivy League champion UPenn.

“This win was not only important for the team’s Ivy League record,” Austin said, “but it gave us the chance to prove how much of a family we are in competition. We won because we wanted it more than they did, and we wanted it as ateam. If we keep that up, there is no question that we will go on to win the Ivy League championship.”

MEN

While the Lions were being tamed by the Harvard women, Columbia lashed back at the Crimson men.

Harvard never wavered, staying neck-and-neck until the final two epee bouts. The Crimson’s area of greatest strength, epee just could not turn the corner. Harvard racked up a 5-4 win in the event with two victories from freshmen Benji Ungar and Teddy Sherrill and a single victory delivered by co-captain Julian Rose.

But it was the deciding match that did the Crimson in.

Rose--the hero in Harvard’s last upset victory against Columbia in November 2003--could not duplicate his epic performance this time. The Lions’ Michael Dreyfus barely edged the Crimson junior in a bout that see-sawed until Dreyfus ultimately won, 5-4.

Returning from a year off to try for the US Olympic Team, junior Tim Hagamen was Harvard’s top saber competitor, going 2-1. Hagamen, who placed sixth at the World Junior Championships last year, has already provided a tremendous boost to the whole men’s team, coach Peter Brand said.

Hagamen’s saber teammates, sophomore Dan Sachs and co-captain David Jakus, complimented Hagamen’s performance with a win apiece, successfully testing what is arguably the foremost saber squad in the United States.

Sophomore Sam Cross dominated foil, taking two of his three bouts.

“Our men understand that we are still in the hunt,” coach Peter Brand said. “[They know] we need to double our efforts as we move on to meet our other tough Ivy League opponents…Everyone contributed and if we continue along this path I believe good things will be coming our way this season.”