Women’s fencing impresses with all three weapons

For the women in their Temple Open, freshmen Claire McNeill and sophomore Kiera Barnes both finished in the top-10 of their respective weapons to start their season at the Temple Open on Saturday.

There are three weapons to fencing: épée, saber, and foil. As a result, there are three sections of play. Épée players play other épée players, and so forth.

McNeill opened her collegiate career in a big way, finishing in 10th place in
épée and moved on to the final 16 fencers during bracket play. She was the fourth-best finisher of all fencers among NCAA Division III teams. The rest of the fencers were international players. McNeill closed pool play with a 7-1 record. She then opened bracket play with a pair of 15-9 victories to advance to the final 16 fencers.

Barnes, meanwhile, produced a ninth-place finish at saber and advanced to the third round in bracket play. She finished the day with seven total victories in the meet. Barnes led the way at saber with a 7-2 record in pool play to earn ninth place. In bracket competition, Barnes advanced to the final 16 after an opening round bye and a win in the round of 32.

In total, Stevens placed a total of five fencers in the top-20 across all weapons in the meet.

Behind McNeill at épée, senior Teny Odaimi posted a 6-2 record in pool play to grab 20th place, and she won her first matchup of bracket play to advance to the round of 32.

Freshmen Leigha Capra and Keira Mizzi, épée, both made their collegiate debuts, and each posted four victories on the day to finish in 22nd and 49th place, respectively. Capra also won her first-round bracket play matchup to move on to the second round.

In our second weapon competition, Stevens’ foil squad placed all nine fencers in the top-55 in pool play to move on to bracket competition.

Senior Allison Urban-Spillane was the top finisher for the foil team, grabbing a 17th place finish with a 6-2 record in pool play. She then picked up a 15-0 victory in the opening contest of bracket competition before falling in the round of 32.

In her first college competition, freshman Ashley McDermott posted a 5-3 record for a 20th place finish and advanced to the second round of bracket competition with a 15-9 victory. An amazing performance from McDermott, a freshman.

Sophomores Kayleigh Kubit and Sara Persau tied for 22nd place after both picking up five victories on the day in pool play. They also were able to advance to the round of 32 with opening round wins.

Senior Nicole Strezewski was the final Duck to move on to the 32nd round after finishing in 28th place and posting four victories in the pool play competition.

For the third weapon competition, all five sabers for the Ducks finished within the top-50 in the first round of pool play to advance to bracket championship.

With Barnes being the first, junior Chrissy Drobish was the second highest saber finisher for Stevens, producing five victories on the day in pool play to finish in 23rd place. Drobish opened bracket play with a win, but fell in the second round.

The Ducks will return to action in the Vassar Invitational this Sunday, November 10, at 9 a.m.