HOBOKEN, NJ (February 15, 2015) -- The Vassar College women's fencing team competed in the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference (EWFC) Championships for the first time on Sunday, taking third place out of eight total squads in action hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology. Vassar joined the EWFC last summer, which is now in its 15th season. 

The Brewers fell to eventual champion and host Stevens 23-4 in the first match of the morning, followed by a 21-6 loss to Johns Hopkins University. Vassar turned it around from that point out, winning the final five matches of the afternoon. VC knocked off Drew University 19-8 in round three, and then earned a 23-4 victory over Yeshiva University. 

Vassar knocked off City College of New York 16-11 in round five, and just snuck by Hunter College 15-12 in the sixth round of competition. To finish the afternoon, the Brewers earned another tight win, claiming a third-place finish with a win over Haverford College, 15-12. 

Later in the day in the individual portion of the tournament, Vassar foil fencers Kirsten Denman (Yellow Springs, OH/Yellow Springs) and Elsa Stoff (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) each earned EWFC Second Team All-Star honors. Denman took home seventh place, while Stoff earned ninth place. 

In sabre action, senior Kathleen Konno (Newburgh, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) finished fifth and took home a EWFC First Team All-Star spot. Teammate Arianna Hawk (East Northport, NY/Commack) was ninth in sabre, earning Second Team All-Star laurels as well.

The Brewers return to fencing action next Saturday, hosting the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Championshops in Walker Field House February 21 in Poughkeepsie, NY.