McNeill
Mike McLaughlin

Women’s Fencing Goes 3-2 at Season-Opening LIU Sharktank Challenge

Ducks defeat NJIT, Drew and Rutgers to open 2023-24 campaign

10/22/2023 6:31:00 PM

By: Stevens Athletic Communications
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (October 22, 2023) – Senior sabreuse Alana Schmitt finished with a team-high nine victories as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's fencing team posted a 3-2 record Sunday at the Sharktank Challenge, hosted by Long Island University at the Steinberg Wellness Center.

First-years Grace Hicks (epee) and Sasha Craine (sabre) each recorded eight victories in their collegiate debuts and graduate epeeist Claire McNeill and first-year weapon-mate Sofia Stoeckel each finished with seven victories for the Ducks, who have won at least three duals in two of their three appearances at LIU's season-opening event.

As a team, the Ducks defeated Drew 19-8 at Rutgers 18-10. The signature victory of the day came over New Jersey Institute of Technology via a narrow, hard fought 14-13 decision. The Ducks dropped duals to Wellesley (20-7) and hosting LIU (15-12). The victory over the Highlanders marked the Ducks' first win over NJIT since 2020, snapping NJIT's six-match winning streak in the all-time series, although Stevens still holds the series lead (17-7).

In addition to Hicks, Craine and Stoeckel, the event marked the collegiate debuts for first-years Zoya Duarte-Garcia (epee) and foilists Paris Sepulveda, Akemi Rodriguez and Sharon Braun. 

The Rundown
  • The Ducks began the day with a thrilling 14-13 win over NJIT. After dropping identical 6-3 scores at both foil and epee, the Ducks posted a dominant 8-1 weapon win at sabre to secure the victory. Schmitt went a perfect 3-0 against NJIT, as did junior Alyssa Ip. Craine accounted for the other two wins at sabre. 
  • Stevens also posted consecutive wins over Rutgers and Drew to wrap up the day. Against the Scarlet Knights, the Ducks posted a decisive 8-1 win at foil, with Sepulveda and junior Sofia Savchuk each winning twice. The dual closed with identical 5-4 wins at epee and foil to seal the victory with Schmitt, Craine, Hicks and Stoeckel each winning twice. Against Drew, it was Craine leading the way with three wins at sabre, while McNeill, Hicks, Ip, Schmitt, Savchuk and Sepulveda each won twice. The Ducks and Rangers have split the last four meetings, although Stevens holds a 23-9 edge over Drew since 2003.
  • The Ducks were unable to find similar success against LIU and Wellesley. Against the Sharks, the Ducks again found themselves on the wrong side of foil (6-3) and sabre (6-3), before rallying with a 6-3 win at epee. McNeill, Hicks and Stoeckel joined sophomore Emily Zgombic in winning twice. Against Wellesley, Zgombic, Schmitt, Craine, Hicks and junior Renny Victoria each won twice, while McNeill posted a pair of wins.
  • Savchuk finished with five wins on the afternoon as did Zgombic, while junior Elizabeth MacDonald had four. Sophomore Emily Miller won once at epee, junior Jasmine Chen posted three wins at sabre, Braun won once at foil, as did junior Annabelle Crescenzo to round out the Ducks' wins on the day.

Top Performers
  • Collectively, the sabre group had the best winning percentage on the day, posting a 26-19 record (.578). The epee group finished 24-21 (.533), while the foilists went 20-25 (.444). 
  • As a weapon group, the foil squad defeated Rutgers (8-1) and Drew (5-4), while epee team defeated LIU (6-3), Rutgers (5-4) and Drew (6-3). The sabre team downed NJIT (8-1), Rutgers (5-4) and Drew (8-1). The 8-1 victories by the sabre team over NJIT and Drew marked the Ducks' best performances of the day.

Coach's Comments
  • "It was a good to get the season off to a good start. There were a lot of great individual performances, as well as great team wins over NJIT and Rutgers. The win over NJIT was an especially close and tough match and I'm proud of our team for pulling out the win." – assistant coach Linda Vollkommer-Lynch

Up Next
  • Stevens heads to Madison, New Jersey for the Drew Rangers Fall Invitational. Duals with Clemson, NJIT, Wagner, Drew and Army are on the docket. Appropriate links will be posted to StevensDucks.com once available. 

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