DURHAM, N.C. – The Haverford College women's fencing team traveled to Duke University over the weekend to compete at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional Championship. This region is widely considered the toughest and deepest fencing region in the NCAA. In addition to four representatives on the women's side, teams such as national champion Penn State, previous national champion Princeton, Duke, North Carolina , University of Pennsylvania, and the rest of the best also competed.
Highlighting the women's performance was a 23rd place finish from junior co-captain Juliana Petersen. Petersen, a seventh place finisher a season ago, was unable to match her stellar results from the 2014 campaign. However, the Fords' lone representative in the epee did finish fourth overall in the first pool with a 4-3 record that included 30 touches for and 26 touches against. In round two, Petersen was up against five other NCAA Division I fencers. She scored eight touches, but finished sixth in the pool and 23rd overall in the regional.
Haverford also received a 28th place showing from Alexandra Morrison in the foil competition. Fencing in her opening round pool, Morrison scored a convincing 5-1 victory against Lafayette's Julia Sheng. Morrison, a freshman, finished her first NCAA regional with seven touches to her credit.
The Fords also had two individuals compete in the sabre competition. Diana Schoder edged out Stevens' Karen Kong, 5-4, to highlight her day. She finished with seven touches overall, placing sixth in the second pool of the opening round, a 31st place finish in the regional. Leslie Tjing was right behind her teammate in the final standings, tying for 32nd in the entire regional. Despite scoring touches in every bout, Tjing was unable to advance with seven touches overall. She finished sixth in the third pool of round one.
Women's fencing ends its season with 13 victories. The Fords also placed fourth at both the EWFC and NIWFA Championships as a team. Looking ahead, Haverford will have to cope with the graduation of co-captain Jessica Poling and regional participant Tjing to graduation. However, the team is slated to return 10 fencers on the women's side, three of whom competed at the NCAA Regional.