Fencing Splits Against Brandeis

For the second straight week, the sabre undercut otherwise sound performances by the Harvard men's and women's fencing teams.

But while the women (1-1 overall, 0-0 Ivy) were able to overcome their lackluster showing in the sabre to defeat Brandeis 19-8, the men (0-2, 0-0) could not recover and fell to the Judges, 16-11 last night at the Malkin Athletic Center.

Out of nine sabre matches, the men won only two bouts. Last night's 2-7 showing spoiled the team's solid performances in the foil and epee divisions.

"The men's team's weakness is obviously the sabre," Harvard Coach Peter Brand said. "We just don't have enough experience with that weapon."

The showing was hardly an improvement from the 1-8 mark the men posted in its first match of the season against MIT, who downed the Crimson in both women's and men's competition on November 19.

"[Last night's loss] is especially difficult to take because we competed well in the foil and epee against both MIT and now Brandeis," Brand said. "But if you lose 8-1 or 7-2 in the sabre, you're dead."

The men's team was led last night by senior co-captain Davin Chew, who recorded a perfect 3-0 mark in foil competition. His three victories (5-2, 5-0, 5-3) helped the Crimson edge Brandeis in the foil category, 5 wins to 4.

In the epee, freshman Derek Lindblom triumphed in two of his three matches. Nonetheless, his individual success was not enough to carry the Crimson in the event, as Brandeis nipped Harvard in the epee, 5-4.

Just as it did with the men, inexperience in the sabre also plagued the Crimson women. Harvard dropped six out of nine matches in that category.

Unlike their male counterparts, however, the women's team was able to compensate for its shortcomings in the sabre, as the Crimson dominated Brandeis with both the foil and the epee, winning each of those events by a convincing 8-1 margin.

Four Harvard women fencers went undefeated on the night. Junior captain Elizabeth Aranow (5-3, 5-1, 5-0) and freshman Rebecca Rendell (5-2, 5-2, 5-4) posted three victories each in the epee division. Junior Emily Katz (5-3, 5-0, 5-2) and sophomore Ellen Schulz (5-1, 5-0, 5-0) enjoyed similar success with the foil.

An added bright spot for the Crimson women was the play of freshman Hilary Robinson, who won two out of the three matches Harvard won in the sabre.

Originally an equestrian, Robinson is a newcomer to the sport of fencing. Already, however, she is beginning to show enough promise to draw rave reviews from her coach.

"Hilary is a very good athlete and a hard worker," Brand said. "Plus, she has talent, which helps a lot. She's already learning the proper timing and she has great footwork."

Along with Robinson, fellow freshmen walk-ons San Kleindienst and Amy Bei are refining their sabre skills as they become more accustomed to their new weapon. Though the pair combined for only one win last night, Brand remains confident that their collective performance will improve as they gain experience.

"The sabre is a brand new event for women in the NCAA," he said. "We are a little behind in our training with it, but all we need is time."

On Saturday, the Crimson will enter its first Ivy League meeting of the young season facing Columbia at home. The match-up figures to be a difficult one for the Crimson, as the Lions field a strong squad, particularly on the women's side.

Additionally, the men's team will fence against Tufts this weekend.

Brand is not worried about his team's chances in either contest.

"We just need to keep everyone together and maintain our focus," he said. "Columbia will be tough. But our goal is to ultimately compete for the National Championship, so in that sense, [Saturday's match] will be just another meet."