WALTHAM, Mass. - This past Saturday, the Haverford College women's fencing team travelled to Brandeis University, just outside of Boston, for the Eric Sollée Invitational, a gruelling and challenging tournament that brings in some of the best teams from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions.

The Fords relied primarily on their wiley veterans for wins in the tough competition. Junior co-captain Sophie Gardiner led all women's fencers with four wins on the day, and had three other bouts go to 4-4 before dropping. Gardiner had wins against MIT, Wellesley and Brandeis, while senior co-captain Petra Budavari also contributed a win against Wellesley.

 

Sophomore epee phenomenon Nina Hamilton was able to secure three wins, with two against hosts Brandeis and another versus MIT. Senior sabriste Rebecca Osbaldeston had two wins, but the most impressive result of the day was two surprise wins from first-year walk-on AnnaLise Sandrich, who showed tremendous grit and focus in pulling two wins against much more experienced fencers. Both Osbaldeston's and Sandrich's wins came against MIT and Wellesley. 

 

The upshot of the day was that Haverford's top fencers were able to secure wins against their DIII opponents, but the combined DI opponents of Duke, Boston College, and Brown were too much to handle this year.

 

Haverford will now host its annual Alumni/ae Bouts on Saturday, February 3 at 11 a.m. inside the Andy Kates Fencing Salle. 

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Epee: 9-0

Foil: 9-0

Sabre: 9-0

 

E: 8-1

F: 7-2

S: 7-2

 

E: 9-0

F: 9-0

S: 9-0

 

E: 9-0

F: 7-2

S: 7-2

 

E: 7-2

F: 8-1

S: 9-0

 

E: 9-0

F: 9-0

S: 9-0