FAIRFIELD, CT (December 8, 2013) – The Vassar College women's fencing team traveled to Sacred Heart University to take on some of the best competition in the country Sunday. Though the Brewers dropped all five matches, four against teams ranked in the CollegiateFencing360.com Top 10 poll, there were still some highlights for Vassar on the day.

                  The Brewers (5-12) fell to New York University in the first match of the day, 15-12, in a highly competitive start to the afternoon. The Brewers dominated action in the epee group, as Rachel Messbauer (Springfield, MA/MacDuffie School) earned three wins, while freshman Olivia Weiss (Pittsburgh, PA/Pennsylvania Cyber Charter) went 2-1.

                  NYU would use 6-3 advantages though in sabre and foil to earn the match win. Freshman Elsa Stoff (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) continued to fair well in foil, as she went 3-0, and first-year fencer Audrey Aller (Dubai, United Arab Emirates/Lycee France Georges Pompidou) was 2-1 against the Violets in sabre.

                  Vassar would fall to No. 7 Harvard University 26-1, dropping a decision as well to No. 6 Penn State University 22-5 in the next two matches. Weiss earned the lone win in epee against Harvard, while junior and first-year sabre fencer Anastasia Stevens (Peterborough, NH/Contoocook Valley Regional) was 2-1 against PSU.

                  The Brewers were downed by No. 2 Princeton University, and finished the day with a 22-5 defeat against the No. 9 Owls of Temple University. Messbauer continued her fine day with two wins against Temple in epee, while Megan Lewis (Charleston, SC/Governor's School) earned a win as well in epee. Stoff and fellow freshman Claudia Carcamo (Clifton, NJ/Montclair Kimberley Academy) each earned a win in foil as well for Vassar against Temple.

                  On the year, Vassar is still led by a group of freshman, as Stoff paces the team with a 31-17 record. Weiss has a 28-17 record to date in epee, and Messbauer and Lewis each have 20 wins on the season. Carcamo is right behind with 19 heading into the break, and Stevens has 15 victories in sabre to lead the group.

                  Vassar will return to action after the Holiday break with a trip to Cleveland, Ohio to take part in the Cleveland State Invitational January 18.