BALTIMORE – The Haverford College women's fencing team had three individuals earn All-Eastern Women's Fencing Conference (EWFC) status on Sunday. First year foilist Hanna Kopits earned first-team status with a third-place showing after going 18-3 during the team portion of the competition and advancing to the semifinals of the direct elimination bouts. Epeeist Katie Bradley and sabrist Anna Neuheardt each earned second-team All-EWFC honors. For Neuheardt, it was the third straight year earning such honors for the junior.
As a team, Haverford placed fifth overall to match last year's finish. However, the Fords finished just three bouts away from third place as only narrow defeats against Drew (15-12) and Vassar (14-13) kept the team from further climbing the final standings.
Kopits' 18-3 record during the team portion of the competition earned her the fourth seed in the direct elimination bouts. She cruised to 15-4 and 15-10 wins during her first and quarterfinal round matchups. Only a 15-10 defeat to eventual EWFC Foilist of the Year Abby Kaye halted her first run at an EWFC individual title. She was credited with a third-place finish, earning Haverford's highest foil medal since Rupinder Garcha '13 was runner-up at this meet during her rookie season in 2010. Zuyi Wang (11-10 during team competition) and Jia-Ming Tuan (12-9) both qualified to the direct elimination bouts and were credited with 10th and 11th place finishes, respectively. As a squad, the Haverford foilists were third overall with 41 wins against just 22 defeats.
Bradley earned her first career All-EWFC recognition with a sixth-place finish, becoming Haverford's highest EWFC epee placer since four-time All-EWFC performer Julie Petersen '16 placed second during the 2015 season. Bradley went 10-5 during team bouts, earning the sixth seed into the direct elimination draw. She was victorious by a hard-fought 15-14 score in her first elimination bout and was edged out during an equally-thrilling 15-13 bout to the eventual runner-up in the quarterfinals. Haverford's epee was also third as a squad. Valentina Zavala-Arbelaez (8-4) recorded a winning record the team portion of the day. Amanda Soled and Lauren Pronger each finished with six victories while Claire Cai entered the lineup in the final round and won her only bout in the tough matchup against Vassar.
Neuheardt led Haverford's sabre squad as she placed ninth overall. With one season to go, the Fords' junior is just the second sabrist in school history to earn three All-EWFC honors (Francesca Behling '13). Neuheardt entered the direct elimination draw as the sixth seed but was upended in the first round and credited with a ninth place finish after going 16-5 during the team competition. Alexandra Morrison (11-10 during team competition) entered the direct elimination draw as the No. 15 seed and gave second-seeded Annie Innes-Gold of Vassar all she could handle during a 15-14 bout in the first round. Sabre placed fifth as a weapon squad and was aided by the efforts of Emily Brown's five victories as she just missed the direct elimination cutoff by one spot. Krystal Li entered the lineup for squadmate Brown against Yeshiva and went a perfect 3-0 during her only bouts.
Women's fencing will return to competition in two weeks for the NIWFA Championship which will be hosted by Army. The Fords placed ninth as a team at that competition a season ago and return two-time All-NIWFA fencer Neuheardt as she looks for her third such honor at this meet.
Full team results
Stevens 21, Haverford 6
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 7-2
Johns Hopkins 21, Haverford 6
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 7-2
Haverford 24, CCNY 3
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 9-0
Drew 15, Haverford 12
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 5-4
Sabre: 5-4
Haverford 25, Yeshiva 2
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 9-0
Haverford 21, Hunter 6
Epee: 6-3
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 6-3
Vassar 14, Haverford 13
Epee: 4-5
Foil: 4-5
Sabre: 6-3
Final Team Standings
1. Stevens (7-0)
2. Johns Hopkins (6-1)
3. Drew (5-2)
4. Vassar (4-3)
5. Haverford (3-4)
6. Hunter (2-5)
7. Yeshiva (1-6)
8. CCNY (0-7)
Haverford All-EWFC
Hanna Kopits (first team; foil)
Katie Bradley (second team; epee)
Anna Neuheardt (second team; sabre)