Jan. 27, 2013
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The University of Notre Dame fencing team claimed seven of a possible 10 decisions Sunday at the NYU Invitational at the Coles Sports Center.
The No. 3 Irish men went 3-2 during the five-round competition, earning victories over Yale (14-13), North Carolina (21-6) and host NYU (21-6). Notre Dame dropped a pair of matches to No. 5 St. John’s (11-16) and No. 7 Columbia (13-14).
On the women’s side, the No. 2 ranked Irish went 4-1 on the day to complete a 9-1 weekend, which included an undefeated Saturday (5-0) at the St. John’s Invitational. Notre Dame downed Yale (25-2), No. 7 Northwestern (19-8), No. 6 St. John’s (14-13) and host NYU (25-2). The lone Irish defeat came at the hands of No. 3 Columbia (13-14).
A scheduled match between Notre Dame and Ohio State was canceled by mutual agreement.
The epee team posted the only shutout of the competition for Notre Dame men’s side, as the trio of James Kaull, Jack Piasio and Michael Rossi each contributed 3-0 bout records against NYU. Piasio finished the day a squad-best 10-4, while Rossi compiled a 7-2 mark.
Junior Ariel DeSmet pushed his early season bout record to 28-2 after sweeping each opponent on the way to a perfect 15-0 outing. Fellow junior Nick Kubik added a 6-2 head-to-head record to help pace men’s foil.
Will McGough won each of his last four combined bouts against St. John’s and NYU to lead the men’s sabre squad with a .667 winning percentage (6-3). Jason Choy (6-6), John Hallsten (8-8) and Kevin Hassett (5-5) each finished at a .500 clip for the competition.
Senior captain Ewa Nelip was the wins leader for the women’s epee squad, who outscored its five opponents by a combined 40-5 margin. Nelip logged a 14-1 bout record, with her only loss coming at the hands of Alina Ferdman from St. John’s (4-5). 2012 All-Americans Ashley Severson (10-2) and Nicole Ameli (8-1), and 2011 NCAA champion Courtney Hurley (8-1) rounded out the stellar effort from the Notre Dame epee team.
Freshman Lee Kiefer capped her second straight 9-3 effort with bout sweeps of Yale (3-0) and Northwestern (3-0) Sunday. Captain Grace Hartman (7-3) and Adriana Camacho (6-1) also contributed solid head-to-head records for the women’s foil squad.
Senior Kathryn Palazzoto and freshman Johanna Thill powered women’s sabre to three squad victories, sharing the weapon lead with seven bout wins. Senior captain Lian Osier added five bout triumphs, while sophomore Mary Regan logged a 4-2 docket in her Notre Dame dual debut.
The Irish return to the strip Feb. 2 at the Northwestern Duals in Evanston, Ill.
NYU Invitational Results
Men (3-2):
No. 3 Notre Dame 14, Yale 13 (Epee: 5-4, Foil: 5-4, Sabre: 4-5)
No. 7 Columbia 14, No. 3 Notre Dame 13 (Epee: 3-6, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 3-6)
No. 3 Notre Dame 21, North Carolina 6 (Epee: 8-1, Foil: 6-3, Sabre: 7-2)
No. 5 St. John’s 16, No. 3 Notre Dame 11 (Epee: 3-6, Foil: 5-4, Sabre: 3-6)
No. 3 Notre Dame 21, NYU 6 (Epee: 9-0, Foil: 4-5, Sabre: 8-1)
Women (4-1):
No. 2 Notre Dame 25, Yale 2 (Epee: 9-0, Foil: 9-0, Sabre: 7-2)
No. 3 Columbia 14, No. 2 Notre Dame 13 (Epee: 8-1, Foil: 1-8, Sabre: 4-5)
No. 2 Notre Dame 19, No. 7 Northwestern 8 (Epee: 7-2, Foil: 6-3, Sabre: 6-3)
No. 2 Notre Dame 14, No. 6 St. John’s 13 (Epee: 7-2, Foil: 5-4, Sabre: 2-7)
No. 2 Notre Dame 25, NYU 2 (Epee: 9-0, Foil: 9-0, Sabre: 7-2)
–ND–