POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 21, 2015) – The Vassar College women's fencing team, after rattling off three wins this past weekend at the VC Fencing Challenge, will enter conference action this weekend traveling to Brown University for Northeast Fencing Conference action. The Brewers will have a marathon afternoon, taking on seven different school in all Saturday in Providence.

Meet Details
Date: January 24, 2015
Meet: Brown Invitational (NEC Conference Meet No. 2)
Teams Competing: Boston College, Brandeis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Tufts University, Smith College
Links: (Vassar Women's Fencing Team Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule) (Statistics)
Site: Providence, RI
Facility: Olney-Margolies Athletic Center
Time: 10 a.m.
 
What To Look For
The Brewers will have their hands full this weekend with the depth of strong teams at the NEC Conference Meet. This is the second conference meet of the season, as Vassar College had a bye at the earlier action at MIT. The Brewers will take on the conference leaders this weekend in Brown and MIT, as the Bears are the defending NEC champions in women's fencing. Vassar College will need to get strong fencing out of the top two positions in each weapon, while hoping that the depth of the team comes through in the crucial moments Saturday.
 
A Look At The Field
The Brewers will take on Boston College in the first match of the day Saturday, and the Eagles will be led by its standout epee group of Olivia Adragna, Renee Bichette and Cara Hall. The trio all finished in the top 13 in the region last year, but none earned a bid to the NCAA Championships. Brandeis, Vassar's next opponent, picked up four NEC wins in the first day of competition. The Judges return NCAA competitor Caroline Mattos (foil), along with sporting a standout epee fencer in Liz Feller, who is 12-1 so far in NEC action this year. Vassar finishes its pre-lunch action against Tufts University, battling the Jumbos for the second-straight weekend. The match-up features a rematch between standout sabre fencing sisters, freshman Annie Innes-Gold (Northampton, MA/Northampton) of VC and senior Sarah Innes-Gold from TU. Last week, VC fell to the Jumbos 15-12.
 
Vassar College will return to action after the lunch break to battle Dartmouth College, which comes into action looking for its first league win of the season. After taking on the Big Green, the Brewers battle host Brown University, looking the pull the upset on the defending league champs. The Bears are paced by Clarissa Allen and Audrey Lee in foil, each of who is 12-1 in the NEC so far. Brown's best weapon could be sabre, as it has five fencers with a combined win percentage of .933. MIT is VC's next opponent on the day, and the Engineers are led by Laura Jarin-Lipshitz (epee), Jessica Li (foil) and its solid sabre threesome of Cordelia Avery, Madison Douglas and Corinne Drysdale. The Brewers finish action Saturday with a match against Smith College, as the Brewers and "Hell's Belles" renew pleasantries.
 
Twice As Weiss
The Brewers will lean fencing of sophomore Olivia Weiss (Pittsburgh, PA/Pennsylvania Cyber Charter) this weekend, as the reigning All-NEC First Team epee fencer went 11-1 last weekend in the VC Fencing Challenge. She was 31-4 in NEC fencing in 2013-14.
 
The Lion's Denman
Vassar College has found a gem in foil fencer Kirsten Denman (Yellow Springs, OH/Yellow Springs), who comes into action this weekend 52-16 on the season, going 12-3 last weekend and was the only Vassar fencer (men or women) to have a winning record at Sacred Heart December 7.
 
Gold Bars
Freshman Annie Innes-Gold faced her sister Sarah Innes-Gold from Tufts for the first time in college, and despite losing a 4-2 lead, responded to earn the 5-4 win. Gold leads all Vassar fencers with 57 wins this year.
 
Sabre Sensations
Along with Innes-Gold, the sabre group has been solid for Vassar, leading all weapon groups with 124 bout wins, edging the epee team by just three wins through 24 matches.
 
Free The Foil
The Brewers fell to Tufts 15-12, but the foil group was stellar going 7-2 in the match including three wins each from Kirsten Denman and Elsa Stoff (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven).
 
Up Next
Vassar travels to Madison, NJ Saturday, January 31 for non-conference action against Drew University.