PHILADELPHIA – The Haverford College women's fencing team wrapped up the regular competition season this weekend with a series of three dual meets at the Philadelphia Invitational. The event was hosted at the University of Pennsylvania's Tse Ping and Cheng Cheung Ling Sports Center.

The Fords' day of competition opened against ACC powerhouse UNC-Chapel Hill, was followed up by taking on the Pioneers of Sacred Heart, and finished against No. 5 Northwestern.

Haverford showed its depth in the epee match, taking down the Tar Heels 5-4. Senior co-captains Leila Braun and Julie Petersen combined with sophomore Amanda Soled for the win, with Soled clinching the victory by defeating Carolina's top fencer, Sara Moreno, for the first time. However, UNC's foil and sabre proved too much as the Tar Heels escaped with the overall win.

The Fords were much closer in the match against Sacred Heart. Haverford won the epee again, 6-3. This time the Fords were helped out by sophomore Lauren Pronger, who posted a narrow 5-4 drop in the sabre. Freshman Anna Neuheardt nailed down two of her three bouts, while former sabriste and newly-minted foilist Elisabeth Hawthorne reeled in the sole win for the foil squad.

The nationally-ranked Northwestern Wildcats demonstrated their depth and No. 5 ranking with a 24-3 victory over Haverford in the last round. Haverford's bright spots came with Petersen demonstrating that she is the very elite of the sport by winning two of her three epee matches. Alexandra Morrison won a hard-fought 5-4 victory in the last bout. She also posted three touches in her two defeats against the Wildcats and showed that she can also compete at the highest level.

The women's fencing team will next compete on Saturday, February 27 at West Point during the NIWFA Championship.

Haverford Results

North Carolina def. Haverford, 22-5
Epee: 4-5
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 9-0

Sacred Heart def. Haverford, 16-11
Epee: 3-6
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 5-4

Northwestern def. Haverford, 24-3
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 9-0