Women Fencers Spear Rhode Island, 15-1

The Harvard women's fencing team captured its third consecutive meet last night, shellacking Rhode Island College, 15-1, at Malkin Athletic Center.

Harvard (8-3 overall, 1-2 Ivy) methodically destroyed RIC, snagging the first 15 bouts of the meet and subduing the visitors in little more than an hour.

"[Harvard] is a very strong team this year," Rhode Island Coach Athena Karacas said. "They have very nice control and are very aggressive."

Sophomore Kristina Perkin and freshman Michelle Kosch spearheaded the Harvard effort, each finishing with a perfect 4-0 record on the night.

In one of the meet's closer bouts, Crimson freshman Amy Neuhardt edged Rita Tabora, 5-4. Neuhardt fell behind 2-1, before battling back to take a 4-2 lead.

After Tabora rallied to tie the score at four, Neuhardt earned the match's final point.

Crimson reserves also saw a bit of playing time. Amanda Leness replaced Neuhardt after the second round and collected two easy victories.

"I was really impressed by Amanda Leness's fencing tonight," sophomore Captain Penelope Papailias said.

Harvard next sees action Saturday afternoon against Cornell at Malkin. Last year, the foilers defeated Cornell, 12-4, to garner their first ever Ivy League victory--after five years of going winless in league competition.

Last weekend, seven Harvard fencers competed in the Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida.

Papailias finished fourth out of 125 foil entrants, while Kosch and Leness finished in seventh and 11th places respectively in epee fencing.

As a result of her strong showing, Papailias was selected as the second alternate for the U. S. Junior World team.