SPORTS BRIEF: Harvard Holds off Duke at MIT Invitational

The Harvard men’s and women’s fencing squads defeated Duke at the MIT Invitational yesterday afternoon.

While the men captured a 16-11 victory, the women proved slightly more dominant with a 19-8 win.

Although the Crimson traditionally competes against multiple teams at the annual meet—the location of which alternates between MIT and Brandeis—Harvard had already faced many of its potential opponents in New York earlier this season and thus faced only the Blue Devils.

The women’s foil went undefeated, rolling past Duke by a 9-0 count despite the absence of world-class foilist Emily Cross.

“We lost Emily, who’s our top foilist,” Crimson coach Peter Brand said. “But I’ve got three freshmen who are probably the best recruits I’ve ever had in terms of work ethic and determination.”

The women’s saber squad also won, 6-3, but the women’s epee lost a close contest, 5-4.

Without senior Tim Hagamen—who Brand asserts “has a great shot at making the Olympic team”—the men’s saber squad lost by a score of 7-2.

The men won by the same tally in the other two weapons, however, as Duke proved unable to match up with Harvard in the foil and the epee.

The Crimson’s next opponent is Boston College. The Eagles will travel across the river to the Malkin Athletic Center to take on Harvard at 7 p.m. on Thursday.