HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College men's fencing team successfully defended its home turf Saturday inside the Andy Kates Fencing Salle. The Fords faced and defeated MACFA rivals Lafayette, Drew, Cornell, and Rutgers at the Dan Arnstein '09 Invitational and MACFA Round Robin.

Avenging last season's losses to Cornell and Lafayette, the Fords put both those teams down this year by matching 16-11 scores. The Big Red, last year's bronze medal team at the MACFA Championship, controlled the foil, winning 7-2, and was close in the sabre before the Fords prevailed by a 5-4 score. However, Haverford's epee squad dominated Cornell with a 9-0 blanking to overcome that strong foil showing from the opposition.

Fencing against the Leopards, the weapons were closer overall. Haverford took 5-4 decisions in both the foil and epee. The most successful weapon for Haverford in the revenge victory was a 6-3 edge in sabre.

During the final rounds, Haverford easily handled a resurgent Drew team, 18-9. The Fords nearly shut out Rutgers in epee, winning the weapon 8-1. The strong showing in that weapon highlighted a 20-7 win for the team.

Co-captain Eric Gardner led all fencers on the day with a perfect 12-0 record. Almost matching that feat was freshman sabrist David Parker. Parker posted a very strong 11-1 record to his credit. That record was matched by freshman sabrist Gabriel Braun. Henry Li, also fencing sabre, showed great improvement by winning two bouts over opponents that had previously defeated him. Co-captain Aldis Gamble led the foil squad with a 5-2 record. His foil teammates - Ian Wheeler (seven wins), Devin Louis (five wins), and Matthew Soulanille (three wins) – also had strong showings throughout the day's action.

After a strong start to the home schedule, the Fords will look to replicate those same feats in the Andy Kates Fencing Salle when they return to action on Saturday, December 5 in the Tri-Co Invitational against Swarthmore and Drexel.

Haverford Scores

Haverford def. Lafayette, 16-11
Foil: 5-4
Epee: 5-4
Sabre: 6-3

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

Haverford def. Rutgers, 20-7
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 8-1
Sabre: 6-3

Haverford def. Cornell, 16-11
Foil: 2-7
Epee: 9-0
Sabre: 5-4