MADISON, N.J. (February 12, 2012) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's fencing team dropped a heartbreaking 14-13 decision to Johns Hopkins University and the Ducks had to settle for second place in the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference for the third-straight year on Sunday. Stevens school-records fell in all three weapons as the team closed out the match play portion of its 2011-12 schedule in Madison.
Stevens topped Haverford College, Drew University, Yeshiva College, City College of New York and Hunter College but could not unseat the Blue Jays from their perch atop the EWFC.
The epee squad was undefeated on Sunday to win its second-straight EWFC weapon title. Krystal Perkins (Palmdale, Calif.) was 16-2 to lead the epeesits. Briana Nieradka (West Windsor, N.J.) became the single-season epee victory leader after her 14-2 record, and Siena Batzli (Maplewood, N.J.) also broke the old school mark and is now No. 2 on the list behind Nieradka after her 12-3 performance on Sunday.
Juliet Turalski (Maplewood, N.J.) set a new single-season sabre mark with her 13 wins on Sunday, while Krista Sticco (Leonia, N.J.) is the new No. 2 (and bested her own single-season mark set last season) with 12 wins on Sunday. Chelsea Shupe (Montague, N.J.) was 7-2 and Emily Brandsdorfer (Dix Hills, N.Y.) was 5-5 on the day.
At foil, Alexis Clyburn (Hillside, N.J.) broke her own single-season wins record set last season with a 10-2 performance on Sunday. The foilists put up plenty of good numbers at the EWFC's, as Taia Harrison (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) Ann Destefano (Spring Lake Heights, N.J.) Trinity Sheppard (Frederic, Md.) and Stephanie Arough (South Brunswick, N.J.) all posted winning records. Senior Brittany Crosby (Surf City, N.J.) had two victories for the Ducks as well.
The Ducks will compete in Hoboken next week as they host the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference Individual Championships. Bouts will begin on Sunday, February 19 at 10 a.m.
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