PHILADELPHIA -  The Haverford College women's fencing team competed on Saturday at the annual Philadelphia Invitational, held at Temple University's Student Pavilion.

Fencing against several of the top Division I teams in the region for the second time this season,the Fords had an opportunity to show growth as they attempted to improve their seeding into the NCAA Regionals.

Memorable squad wins for the Fords came against Sacred Heart, as the sabrists took down the tough Pioneers; and against the University of Pennsylania, the epee squad was triumphant 6-3, for the first squad win against the Quakers in four years.

The overall team scores against top programs Temple and Duke were deceiving as many of the individual scores were narrow 4-5 losses, and several Fords picked up wins against top-rated opponents.

In the last round, the Fords overwhelmed the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), especially dominating in the sabre, 9-0.

Team leaders on the day were epeeist Sarah Sofia, with a 9-4 record; sabriste Shannon Horn, at 11-7; and Katie Elbert (7-8) and Leila Braun (8-10) in the foil. Showing tremendous improvement in a short time were freshman walk-ons Julie Ta in the
foil (2-3) and Elizabeth Hawthorne in the sabre (3-3).

Haverford heads to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to take part in the Sollee Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 3.




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

Temple def. Haverford, 22-5
E: 5-4
F: 8-1
S: 9-0

UPenn def. Haverford, 17-10
E: 3-6
F: 7-2
S: 7-2

Duke def. Haverford, 22-5
E: 8-1
F: 8-1
S: 6-3

Haverford def. NJIT, 19-8
E: 6-3
F: 4-5
S: 9-0