Irish Fencing Shines At Northwestern Duals

Feb. 2, 2013

EVANSTON, Ill. – The University of Notre Dame fencing team completed another successful competition Saturday at the Northwestern Duals inside the Crown Sports Pavilion.

The second-ranked Irish women’s team went a perfect 8-0 on the day, upping its season dual record to an impressive 17-1. Notre Dame claimed crucial victories over No. 9 Temple (18-9), No. 4 Ohio State (16-11) and No. 1 Princeton (14-13). The Irish epee squad compiled the most impressive mark of the competition for Notre Dame, posting a cumulative 63-9 bout record.

Sophomore epeeists Nicole Ameli and Ashley Severson, along with sophomore foilist Madison Zeiss, turned in unblemished 3-0 records against defending national champion Ohio State, with Ameli and Severson each earning a bout triumph over 2012 NCAA champion Katarazyna Dabrowa. Notre Dame broke an 11-all tie by scoring the final five touches to secure the 16-11 team victory.

Senior epeeist Ewa Nelip posted a 3-0 mark against No. 1 Princeton, while senior foilist Grace Hartman logged a pair of crucial wins over Ambika Singh (4-2) and Eve Levin (5-2) to key a Notre Dame comeback from a 9-3 deficit. Ameli clinched the win with a 5-3 victory over 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Susannah Scanlan.

The No. 3 Irish men’s team posted a 5-1 record, including victories over No. 10 Stanford (17-10) and No. 4 Princeton (14-13). Notre Dame’s only defeat of the day came at the hands of No. 1 Ohio State (12-15), whom the Irish gained a victory against during the season opening St. John’s Invitational Jan. 26.

Two-time Olympian Gerek Meinhardt was impressive in his regular season debut, losing only one contest in the opening match against No.1 Ohio State. Meinhardt posted 3-0 bout records in the day’s final five contests to finish 17-1.

The Irish will compete at the Duke Duals Feb. 10 in Durham, N.C.

Northwestern Duals Results

Women: (8-0)
No. 2 Notre Dame 20, Farleigh Dickinson 7 (Epee: 9-0, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 4-5)
No. 2 Notre Dame 22, North Carolina 5 (Epee: 8-1, Foil: 8-1, Sabre: 6-3)
No. 2 Notre Dame 18, UC San Diego 9 (Epee: 8-1, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 3-6)
No. 2 Notre Dame 26, Cal Tech 1 (Epee: 9-0, Foil: 9-0, Sabre: 8-1)
No. 2 Notre Dame 14, No. 1 Princeton 13 (Epee: 6-3, Foil: 4-5, Sabre: 4-5)
No. 2 Notre Dame 18, No. 9 Temple 9 (Epee: 7-2, Foil: 6-3, Sabre: 5-4)
No. 2 Notre Dame 22, Stanford 4 (Epee: 8-1, Foil: 9-0, Sabre: 5-3)
No. 2 Notre Dame 16, No. 4 Ohio State 11 (Epee: 8-1, Foil: 6-3, Sabre: 2-7)

Men: (5-1)
No. 1 Ohio State 15, No. 3 Notre Dame 12 (Epee: 2-7, Foil: 5-4, Sabre: 5-4)
No. 3 Notre Dame 14, No. 4 Princeton 13 (Epee: 5-4, Foil: 5-4, Sabre: 4-5)
No. 3 Notre Dame 17, No. 10 Stanford 10 (Epee: 5-4, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 5-4)
No. 3 Notre Dame 27, Cal Tech 0 (Epee: 9-0, Foil: 9-0, Sabre: 9-0)
No. 3 Notre Dame 15, UC San Diego 12 (Epee: 5-4, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 3-6)
No. 3 Notre Dame 20, North Carolina 7 (Epee: 7-2, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 6-3)

–ND–