FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Haverford women's fencing team got off to its best start in years at the first team event of the season, the Sacred Heart Invitational, held this past Sunday at Sacred Heart University.

In the opening round of competition, the Fords dominated Vassar College, 17-10, led by the stellar play of the foil squad and sabriste Shannon Horn.

Horn and foilists Katie Elbert and Leila Braun also led the way in the second round against Tufts, going undefeated as the Haverford team revenged last year's loss to the Jumbos, 18-9.

Rounds three and four put a temporary halt to the Ford's rampage, as they ran up against successive Division I powerhouses Sacred Heart and Cornell, dropping those matches 8-19 and 4-23, respectively. Horn continued her strong performance, however, taking down two of her three opponents from each team, including Sacred Heart's standout sabriste Elena Tringa, 5-2.

After the lunch break, Haverford was back in top form against Army and City College of New York, beating both teams 19-8. These victories set the stage for the match of the day, against long-time Eastern Women's Fencing Conference (EWFC) rival Stevens Institute of Technology, whom the Haverford women have not beaten in three years, since their 2009 win of the EWFC Championship. Stevens,who had actually defeated Sacred Heart earlier in the day, was not ready for the tenacity of the Fords, as Haverford won six matches in the first round by the score of 5-4. Overall there were nine 5-4 bouts in the contest against Stevens, all of which were won by Haverford fencers, as they marched to a historic 16-11 win over the Ducks.

Team leaders on the day were Horn, who demonstrated her championship potential with an amazing 19-2 record in the sabre; fellow junior and foilist Katie Elbert, who rolled to a 16-5 finish; and in the epee, freshman Juliana Petersen posted a solid 12-6 record.

This coming Saturday, Nov. 17, both Haverford teams will defend their home turf against Johns Hopkins and an assortment of other opponents at the Haverford Invitational, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Alumni Fieldhouse.

Haverford def. Vassar, 17-10
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 7-2
Sabre: 5-4

Haverford def. Tufts, 18-9
E: 6-3
F: 8-1
S: 4-5

Sacred Heart def. Haverford, 18-9
E: 7-2
F: 6-3
S: 6-3

Cornell def. Haverford, 23-4
E: 7-2
F: 9-0
S: 7-2

Haverford def. Army, 19-8
E: 7-2
F: 6-3
S: 6-3

Haverford def. CCNY, 19 - 8
E: 7 - 2
F: 5 - 4
S: 7 - 2

Haverford def. Stevens Tech, 16 - 11
E: 6 - 3
F: 6 - 3
S: 4 - 5