POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 14, 2011) – The Vassar College men's fencing team opened its 2011-12 season hosting its annual VC Invitational and the Brewers compiled a respectable 4-2 record against a mix of conference and non-conference teams.

Notable performances were turned in by sophomore John Arden in the sabre at 14-2, sophomore Alex Bue in the foil at 10-6 and junior Alex Vastola in the foil at 7-4.

“We have a lot of improving to do to replicate our second place conference finish,” said head coach Bruce Gillman. “But for our first series of matches, we fared pretty well.”

Round 1 – Vassar 19   Yeshiva 8
Vassar foil rolled in the opening round going 9-0 with wins by Bue, Vastola, Giovanni Zaccheo , and Trequan Artis. The Maccabees provided Vassar with good competition in sabre and epee, though with Vassar edging out squad wins in both at 5-4.

Round 2 – Vassar 25   Hunter 2
Hunter was unable to field any full squads for this match. Sophomore Matt Steinschneider had two exciting wins in sabre competition.

Round 3 – Sacred Heart University 19   Vassar 8
“Sacred Heart had a strong team last year that won the North East Fencing Conference for the second year,” said Gillman. “I predict a 3-peat. All three squads are strong and deep and their epee teams is perhaps as ours.” Junior Tavish Pegram won two bouts in the epee, but seniors Nick Johnson and Brian Rouse were only able to manage one each. “I have feeling it will be a bit different in February when we meet them again at UMass,” Gillman. “Our foil and sabre squads were only able to eek out two wins each against SHU. I hope for some improvement there as well.”

Round 4 – Haverford 14   Vassar 13
One of Vassar's closest matches of the day came against Haverford. Last year Haverford controlled the match in foil and sabre and won handily despite Vassar's strong epee team. This year, Vassar sabre was triumphant behind a 3-0 performance by Arden and sophomore Kenny Lee at 2-1, and Steinscheider 1-0. Haverford handled Vassar's foil squad as the Brewers were 3-6 despite some great fencing by Vastola in that round. The match came down to epee and Haverford's first and second epee fencers were still riding a high from the previous week when they placed first and second at the Temple Open and topped the Brewers. Haverford won the squad match 5-4 and the team match 14-13.

Round 5 – Bye

Round 6 – Vassar 14   West Point 13
This was another close match. Last year, Vassar lost to West Point by the same score. This year, Johnson at 2-1 and Rouse at 3-0 helped secure the victory. Bue contributed mightily with a 2-1 mark in the foil. Arden picked up our only sabre wins at 3-0 but that was just enough to secure the match.

Round 7 – Vassar 16   Stevens 11
Arden again was undefeated in sabre and sophomore Gabriel Perez also picked up a win. Foil and epee both rolled with 6-3 marks with Rouse, Pegram, and Johnson garnering two wins apiece in epee. Bue was 3-0 and sophomore foilist Giovanni Zaccheo finished the day strong at 2-1.

The Brewers return to action next Sunday, November 20 hosting the Matt Lampell Hudson River Invitational in Walker Field House. Prior to the match, Vassar will honor its seven graduating seniors.