CAMBRIDGE, MA (November 29, 2009) – The Vassar College women's fencing team tackled six of the nation's perennial powers on Sunday in a multi-meet at Harvard University. While the Brewers lost each of the six matches, several fencers had strong performances, led by junior captain Sophie Courser who went 13-1 in the epee.

The Brewers, now 6-9 on the season, will be off for winter break. Vassar returns to action on Monday, January 18 with an away meet at Yale.

In addition to Courser, freshman Caitlin Clevenger went 7-8 in her epee bouts and freshman Katie LeClair went 9-6 in the foil.

Round 1 – BYE

Round 2: Vassar 9 – University of North Carolina 18
UNC is a strong Division 1 program Vassar did not meet last year despite hosting the same multi-meet last season. With the exception of LeClair who went 2-1, the Tar Heels easily won the sabre and foil competition. The Brewers had a strong epee match, winning 5-4, and were led by Courser at 3-0 and a 2-1 mark by Clevenger.

Round 3: Vassar 9 – New York University 18
The Brewers fence NYU twice each season and the matches are always tightly contested. The foil and sabre squads lost 7-2, but epee pulled out another 5-4 victory. LeClair, Courser, and Clevenger accounted for most of the Vassar wins. Domino Gehred -O'Connell and Brooke Schieffer each had one victory in sabre.

Round 4: Vassar 11 – Sacred Heart University 16
Sacred Heart is another traditional team the Brewers face twice a season. Sacred Heart captured the first match on Sunday and the Brewers will look to even the series in February. The match was close with Vassar squad victories in foil (5-4) and epee (6-3), but SHU dominated in sabre, winning 9-0 to take the match. LeClair and Courser were both 3-0 in this round and Melissa Lee and Clevenger both 2-1.

Round 5: Vassar 1 – Princeton 26
Princeton's team was very strong and the Brewers used some substitutions players in this round. The only victory for Vassar was by freshman Chaia Flegenheimer in epee.

Round 6: Vassar 4 – Penn State 23
Penn State captured its 11th national championship last season and annual fields a strong contingent. The four Vassar wins in the round were by LeClair (2-1), Elizabeth Ilechko (1-2) and Courser (1-1).

Round 7: Vassar 6 – Harvard 21
Host Harvard was strong and foil and sabre only managed one victory between them. Courser (3-0) and Clevenger (2-1) secured an epee squad victory for the Brewers, 5-4.