CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Haverford College men's fencing team competed Sunday in the Sollee Invitational hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Carried by a strong performance from the foil squad, the Fords defeated the host Engineers but lost to New York University, Boston College, Brown University and Brandeis University.

Bright spots came for Haverford in an upset of NYU's vaunted sabre squad, as Haverford took that match 5-4; and a domination of Brown's foil squad, 6-3. Brown's foilists are considered the top in the Northeast and one of the strongest in the nation, but the match-up favored the Fords in three ways- the idiosyncratic style of French, freshman Baptiste Teyssier, the cool leadership of squad captain Sam Levinson, and Max Findley's competitive experience combined to overwhelm the Bears.

The foilists also defeated a strong Brandeis squad, 5-4, and dominated MIT 8-1. The épée squad, usually the engine driving Haverford to victory, was tepid on the day as squad leader James Nieuwland went 8-5. Aaron Rubyled the sabre team at 8-6, but squadmate Josh Nadel, showing the benefits of improved focus on his footwork had his best performance to date at 6-7. Improvements to Nadel's footwork will benefit the entire team. And Teyssier led the foils and the team with a 9-6 record.

The Haverford men will compete next weekend at Johns Hopkins University for the second Mid-Atlantic Conference Fencing Association tournament of the season.

NYU def. Haverford, 19-8

Épée: 6-3

Foil: 9-0

Sabre: 4-5

Brown def. Haverford, 20-7

E: 9-0

F: 3-6

S: 8-1

Boston College def. Haverford, 18-9

E: 6-3

F: 6-3

S: 6-3

Brandeis def. Haverford, 19-8

E: 8-1

F: 4-5

S: 7-2

Haverford def. MIT, 16-11

E: 3-6

F: 8-1

S: 5-4