EASTON, Pa. – Junior sabrist Anna Neuheardt advanced among the top 24 individuals at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional on Saturday afternoon for the first time in her career. That performance led the Haverford College women's team as it was represented by four individuals at what is widely considered the toughest regional in NCAA fencing.
Now a three-time regional qualifier, Neuheardt was credited with a 21st place finish at the end of her competition, finishing just one win shy a spot in the top 18. Neuheardt started her day with a 2-3 record during the opening round. A convincing 5-0 win against Drew's Natalya Shcherban and 5-1 victory against Steven's Julia Yang paved the way to her plus-three touch ratio that ultimately earned her advancement into the top 24.
The junior sabrist won another bout by a 5-2 score over Duke's Lindsay Sapienza in the round of 24, but it was not enough to earn another advancement as she placed 21st overall. Neuheardt just missed the advancement cut to 18 by a single bout victory. Her placement was the highest for Haverford in that weapon since Shannon Horn '14 took 20th during her senior season.
Senior co-captain Alexandra Morrison also contested sabre for the Fords to wrap up her decorated career. A three-time regional qualifier in foil before making the transition to the sabre squad to help her team prior to the spring semester, Morrison matched her teammate's two victories in the opening round. She defeated Wagner's Dove Sinclair and Drew's Kayla Ogden, but came up just five touches away from joining her teammate in the round of 24. Morrison was credited with a 27th place finish for the best regional showing of her standout collegiate career.
Hanna Kopits qualified to the regional championships in foil during her rookie season. She finished with Haverford's best overall record at 3-2 during the opening round, tallying victories against Penn's Simone Unwalla, Princeton's Diana Chin, and Drew's Lydia Segal. However, a very evenly matched field in the opening round saw her miss advancement to the top 24 by three touches and one individual placement. She finished 25th overall for Haverford's best foil showing since Katie Elbert '14 placed 21st during her senior campaign.
Sophomore Katie Bradley represented Haverford epee for the second straight season and placed 36th overall in the field as she was drawn into a pool with four Division I fencers. She gave Temple's Fiona Fong and North Carolina's Erin O'Neill all they could handle before being edged out in the final crucial touches.
With the completion of NCAA regional fencing for the women's fencing team, the 2017-18 season has officially drawn to a close. Although the Fords will graduate three talented seniors from this year's team, the future is still bright as each of Haverford's four classes were represented at the 2018 regional championship.