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Three Post Double-Digit Wins to Pace Women’s Fencing at Eric Sollee Invite

Ducks down Hunter to open second half of the schedule

1/27/2024 8:06:00 PM

By: Stevens Athletic Communications
WALTHAM Mass. (January 27, 2024) – Graduate student Claire McNeill had 12 wins to lead three Ducks in double figures as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's fencing team kicked off the second half of its schedule Saturday at the Eric Sollee Invitational, hosted by Brandeis University at the Gosman Athletic Center.

Joining McNeill is posting double-digit wins on the day were senior Alana Schmitt and first-year Grace Hicks, who each posted 10 wins at sabre and epee, respectively. Junior Arianna Daringa added nine wins at sabre for the Ducks, who went 1-6 on the day to move the Ducks' record to 12-15. Four of the Ducks' seven opponents on the day were nationally-ranked and two were Division I programs.

Stevens began the day against Boston College and dropped a 16-11 decision before falling to No. 3 Brandeis 18-9. No. 5 Tufts handed the Ducks a 21-6 setback, which was followed by a 19-8 loss to Brown. The Ducks posted their lone victory of the team with an 18-9 decision over Hunter for their 44th straight win over the Hawks. The day concluded with a 17-10 loss to No. 4 Wellesley and a 20-7 setback to No. 6 MIT.

The event is held annually in honor and recognition of the longtime former MIT head fencing coach.

The Rundown
  • Boston College topped the Ducks in both foil and sabre before Stevens rallied to win the epee portion of the match. Schmitt, McNeill and Hicks each won three times to pace the Ducks.
  • Hosting Brandeis posted identical 6-3 scores in all three weapons to claim their third straight victory over the Ducks. Junior Elizabeth MacDonald joined Schmitt and McNeill in recording a team-leading two victories in the dual. 
  • Tufts registered 8-1 victories in the sabre and foil weapons, while also claiming the epee bouts via a 5-4 score. It was again McNeill and Hicks leading the team with two victories. 
  • Epee led the way against Brown, posing an impressive six victories against the Ivy Leage squad. Hicks went a perfect 3-0, while McNeill had two. Junior Renny Victoria, joined Schmitt and Daringa in picking up the Ducks' other wins against the Bears. 
  • The Ducks won two of the three weapon battles to top Hunter for the Ducks' lone dual win of the day. Daringa, junior Alyssa Ip and fellow junior Nerissa Lundquist each went a perfect 3-0, while junior Sofia Savchuk and first-year Paris Sepulveda each went 2-1. 
  • Against Wellesley, Daringa and Schmitt each went 2-1, as the Ducks posted a 5-4 weapon win at sabre. A total of six Ducks each posted a win against the Blue. Wellesley has won the last six meetings between the programs.
  • Finally, against MIT, the Ducks' best performance came at foil, where the Engineers escaped with a narrow 5-4 win. MacDonald posted a pair of wins, while sophomore Emily Zgombic and first-year Akemi Rodriguez each won once. 
  • In terms of individual wins, Savchuk, Lunquist, Ip and Victoria finished with three wins, while Zgombic, Sepulveda and first-year Sharon Braun each had two. Rodriguez, junior Jasmine Chen and senior Megha Jain each had one to round on the Ducks' wins on the day. Jain's victory against Hunter was her second of the season.

Top Performers
  • Collectively, the sabre and epee groups had identical records, finishing the day at 26-37, while the foil team went 17-46. As a team, Stevens finished with a 69-120 mark on the day, although statistically, the Ducks had their best win-loss percentage against the two Division I opponents. 
  • Within their respective weapon groups, epee and sable each posted two victories. Epee posted a 7-2 win against Boston College and a 6-3 mark against Brown, while the sabreists blanked Hunter (9-0) and topped Wellesley 5-4. Foil had their lone weapon victory of the day with a 6-3 win over Hunter.

Coach's Comments
  • "It was a really tough day for the women as we fenced some of the toughest teams in the country.  We were down a few starters, but everyone stepped up and fought hard, especially the epee squad." – head coach Jim Carpenter

Up Next
  • Stevens returns to the strip in one week's time, hosting the annual Stevens Invitational inside Canavan Arena on Feb. 4. The event marks the lone home meet for the Ducks.

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