STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Haverford College women's fencing team jumped right back into action with some of the toughest competition it will face all season at the Penn State Invitational over the weekend. Four of the Fords' six opponents finished last season ranked inside the top 10 nationally. That list included Penn State (4th), Penn (7th), Yale (9th), and Temple (10th). Haverford's opponents also featured national powers in Division I Duke and North Carolina as the Fords were the only Division III team in the field.
Even with the star-studded event, several Haverford fencers shined among the sport's best on Sunday. Perhaps no example was better than sophomore Hanna Kopits who won four bouts during the first three rounds of fencing during her much-anticipated return to the lineup. Quickly returning to form in short order, Kopits started her day with a win over Dukes' 2016 NCAA qualifier Kristen Coury. The sensational sophomore was also 2-1 against Yale, recording victories over regional finalist Camille Pham and two-time NCAA qualifier Anna Zhou. Kopits closed her day with another win against local rival Temple during her final round of action.
Entering into the lineup for the second half of the day, Golda Glasser picked up two wins against Penn State during the final round of fencing. Zuyi Wang notched a win against Temple in her return from being abroad during the fall semester, while Jia-Ming Tuan picked up her victory against Yale.
First-year Maia Carvalho recorded a team-best five victories on the afternoon to pace the epeeists. Her best round came in the last of the afternoon against the Nittany Lions as Carvalho went 2-1 against the hosts. Included in Carvalho's victories was a win against Fionna Fong, who is a NIWFA bronze medalist and three-time All-NIWFA performer for Temple. The Fords' epee squad posted its strongest results against Penn as Claire Cai won a pair of bouts, while three others went to a decisive fifth touch for the squad. Sarah Blossom kept her squad's momentum going during the next round with a triumph against North Carolina.
Anna Neuheardt highlighted sabre's day at Penn State with a pair of victories against the host Nittany Lions and another against Yale. Fellow senior Emily Brown also notched a win against Yale.
The tough January schedule to get the team in peak condition for the postseason tournaments continues this coming Saturday as the Fords travel to Penn for the Philadelphia Invitational. Fencing in University City is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m.
Full team results
Duke 26, Haverford 1
Epee: 9-0
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 9-0
Yale 21, Haverford 6
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 7-2
Temple 25, Haverford 2
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 9-0
Penn 25, Haverford 2
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 9-0
North Carolina 23, Haverford 4
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 7-2
Penn State 22, Haverford 5
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 9-0