MEDFORD, MA (February 6, 2010) – Bolstered by key performances from a mix of veterans and newcomers, the Vassar women's fencing team reeled off a 5-1 performance at the Northeast Conference Meet Saturday at Tufts University. The Brewers knocked UMass, Wellesley, New Hampshire, Boston University and Dartmouth in the competition, only falling to a tough Sacred Heart team.

Now 16-16 on the season, the Brewers will have two weeks to prepare for the New England Championships hosted by Mount Holyoke on February 21.

Head coach Bruce Gillman cited outstanding efforts from: junior Julie Carlsen, who went 13-4 in the sabre, sophomore Brooke Schieffer, an 12-6 mark in the sabre, junior Jackie Kory who compiled an 11-3 mark in the foil, freshman Katie LeClair, a 13-1 mark in the foil, junior Sophie Courser, a 13-2 record in the epee, sophomore Veronica Weser, 8-1 in the epee and freshman Caitlin Clevenger, a 10-5 record in the epee.

Round 1 – Bye

Round 2 – Vassar 18 – University of Massachusetts 9
According to Gillman, UMass had a strong foil fencer who gave each of the Vassar fencers difficulty, leading to a 6-3 Vassar win in this weapon. Epee started slowly, compiling a 4-5 record, but the real highlight of the round was the awakening of the sabre squad with Carlsen and senior Ariel Hulley both going 3-0 and Schieffer at 2-1.

Round 3 – Vassar 14 – Wellesley 13

Vassar sabre and foilist LeClair saved the team in this round. Wellesley fenced hard in epee competition and Vassar went 4-5 despite 2-1 performances by Courser and Clevenger. Foil also only went 4-5. Carlsen came through big, going 3-0 and Schieffer added two wins and Hulley one giving Vassar a critical 6-3 sabre victory. Leclair won the last foil bout with the match score tied at 13-13 to seal the win.

Round 4 – Vassar 17 – University of New Hampshire 10
UNH's foil squad was an unpleasant surprise. Katie LeClair earned our only wins in foil in that round and the squad went 3-6. Epee and sabre won convincingly with Courser, Weser and Carlsen all 3-0 and Clevenger and Schieffer at 2-1.

Round 5 – Vassar 24 – Boston University 3
Vassar had complete control of this match with LeClair, Melissa Lee, Clevenger, Weser, Schieffer, and Jillian Josimovich all 3-0 in this round..

Round 6 – Vassar 22 – Dartmouth 5
Foil was undefeated with LeClair, Kory and Katharine Sweeney all at 2-0 and Courser, Weser, and Jacinthe Sasson-Yenor set a 7-2 squad mark in epee. Sabre was also impressive at 6-3

Round 7 – Vassar 12 – Sacred Heart 15
Despite an impressive foil 8-1 squad victory behind 3-0 performances by LeClair and Kory and 2-1 record by Lee, the Brewers dropped the match as Sacred Heart took the sabre competition 9-0 and epee 5-4.