POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 31, 2014) – The Vassar men's and women's fencing teams (25-32) face Yale University and Drew University on Saturday, February 1 in New Haven, Connecticut. Although neither Drew nor Yale are ranked in the top ten fencing teams according to CollegeFencing360.com, Yale's teams received votes in the last poll, 33 for men's and nine for women's. The Brewers are looking for victory coming off a mixed showing last weekend at the Boston College Invitational, walking away with a 3-7 combined record against MIT, Brown, BU, Tufts, and Brandeis.

Game Details
Opponent: vs. Yale University (2-1)
(Yale Men's Fencing Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule)
(Yale Women's Fencing Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule)
Site: New Haven, CT
Facility: Payne Whitney Gym
Date: February 1, 2014
Time: 12 p.m.
 
Game Details
Opponent: vs. Drew University (0-18)
(Drew Men's Fencing Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
(Drew Women's Fencing Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: New Haven, CT
Facility: Payne Whitney Gym
Date: February 1, 2014
Time: 1 p.m.
 
A Look at the Bulldogs (2-1)
The Yale University Bulldogs are relatively early in their season, with the men's team keeping the statistics on the winning side. The men's team is fresh off the New York University Invitational, where the score was a wash at 3-3. Senior Cornelius Saunders, team captain for three years running, won an epee bout at 5-1, dominating Wayne State's contender.

A Look at the Rangers (0-18)
The Drew University Rangers are having a rough season so far, despite bouts won neither the men's nor women's teams have defeated a single other college this season. The men's team started the season stronger, fighting Cornell for a 16-11 score and losing to Haverford by a slimmer 17-10. However, since the new year they have suffered, winning only one bout against Duke University and falling to Penn State at a crippling 27-0. The women's team fared no better, losing their strongest game 16-10 against LaFayette College. They have scored in the single digits for the entire rest of the season. Despite low scores, the Brewers should look out for the Drew leaders, including freshman Daniel Denci, who has a season record of 13-2 on sabre and a strong .867 winning percentage, the only person on his squad to win any bouts this season. Also on sabre for the women's team is sophomore Sarah Silvestri with a season record of 8-1, holding a .889 winning percentage.
 
A Very Busy Season
The Brewers have played the most games of all three teams, 57 to Drew's 18 and Yale's 3. This depth of experience may balance Yale's winning season as almost every Brewer has played several matches since the new year alone.
 
Women's Freshmen Powerhouses
The rising rookie stars of this year's Brewers lineup have definitely benefitted from the intensive practice they've had this season. Freshman Elsa Stoff (Peterborough, NH/Contoocook Valley Regional) has dominated in foil for a 67-24 bout record, and fellow freshman Olivia Weiss (Pittsburgh, PA/Pennsylvania Cyber Charter) has found success on epee with a record of 58-22.
 
Men's Rookies Rising
The men's team sees similar success in their freshmen. Freshman Jackson Dammann Chappaqua, NY/Horace Greeley), whose record this season on epee is a strong 42-32 and Ry Farley (Pasadena, CA/Waverly School) (also epee) who boasts a 50-25 record are highlighting the strength of the men's team's incoming class.
 
Old Hands Keep Men's Team Winning
Working hard to maintain the men's current wining percentage of .536 is senior captain Matt Steinschneider (Fairfield, CT/Green Farms Academy), holding a record of 57-22.
 
Women's Strength in Epee
This year's Brewer women's team is strongest in epee, the only squad with a current winning record with a bout score so far of 151-110.
 
Globe-trotting Students Flesh Out Teams
Both the men's and women's teams boast international team members hailing from various continents. The women's team is home to freshman Audrey Aller (Dubai, UAE/Lycee Franc Georges Pompidou) and senior Noelle Sawyer (Nassau, The Bahamas/St. John's College). The men's team has sophomore Bo Peng (Shenzen, China/Minnesota Valley Lutheran) and freshman Stefan Richards (Kingston, Jamaica/United World College Atlantic).
 
Aging Men's Team Boasts Six Seniors
The men's fencing team this year has six seniors in their 19-person team: Tushar Agarwal (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C. Ketcham); Captain John Arden (Pelham, NY/Pelham Memorial); Kenny Lee (Whitestone, NY/Stuyvesant); Nico Mongillo (Chesire, CT/Chesire); Captain Matt Steinschneider; and Giovanni Zaccheo (New York, NY/Hunter College HS).
 
Consistency in Men's Squads
Each of the men's squads this year has maintained a winning record. Epee sits at 132-120, foil at 133-119, and sabre at 129-120.
 
Freshman Fencer Weiss Featured
Freshman Olivia Wiess was featured on January 27 by VassarAthletics.com for her standout performance on epee at the Boston College Invitational. Weiss won 12 bouts in a row at the end of the afternoon.
 
Up Next
Coming up the Brewers will be back at it when both the men's and women's teams go up against Columbia University on February 5 in New York City.