POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 13, 2016) – The Vassar College men's fencing team opened its 2016-17 dual meet schedule on Sunday afternoon, going undefeated in eight matches in action from the Vassar Invitational in Walker Field House.

The Brewers were able to outlast all eight of their opponents on Sunday, thanks to a talented, deep squad that showed itself multiple times throughout the day. Vassar knocked off Yeshiva University 20-7, Hunter College 21-6, Stevens 17-10, Haverford College 16-11, Lafayette College 20-7, Army-West Point 25-2, University of Incarnate Word 19-8 and Drew University 21-6.

VC started the day with a strong win over the Maccabees, as the men's sabre squad went 9-0 and the men's epee was 7-2. Freshmen Ethan Levine and Graeme Mills were each 2-0 in sabre, while senior Campbell woods also won a pair of matches. Junior Jonathan Alperstein and senior Ry Farley each won both of their matches, while Tom Racek also was 2-0 in men's foil.

Against Hunter, junior Eli Polston chalked up a pair of wins at sabre, while Michael Skolnick helped Vassar go 9-0 in foil thanks to a 3-0 match. Squad mates Aaron Choi and Racek were each 2-0 as well, while Alperstein chalked up three more wins against the Hawks as the epee squad was 7-2.

VC was tested the next two matches, but the sabre and foil teams lifted Vassar to a strong win over Stevens. The sabre team went 7-2 against the Ducks, as Polston was 3-0 and Mills and Woods each posted two victories. In foil, freshmen Noe Berger and Jack Holmes were 2-1, while Racek matched his freshmen squad members with a 2-1 slate as well. In epee, Farley chalked up two triumphs as well.

The closest match of the day for VC came in Round 4, as Vassar outlasted the Fords of Haverford 16-11, thanks to a great outing by the foil squad. The Brewers picked up seven of the nine foil bouts, led by Holmes and his perfect 3-0 tally. Racek and Berger were also both undefeated in their two bouts before being subbed out. Alperstein was 2-1 in epee, while senior Jackson Dammann also won two bouts against the Fords. In sabre, Mills took all three of his bouts in what would be a dominant first day for the freshman.

Vassar kept its run going against Lafayette in Round 5, as juniors Polston, Racek and Daniel Swerzenski led their respective weapon groups with perfect 3-0 rounds. Against West Point, both the foil and epee groups were undefeated, as Dammann and Farley were 3-0 in epee while Holmes captured all three of his bouts against the Black Knights.

Against the University of Incarnate Word, Vassar and the Cardinals had a true battle in epee, as the two groups were two of the best weapon squads Sunday. VC was 4-5, but the sabre team was 9-0 against UIW and the foil team went 6-3 to push the Brewers to victory. Polston, Woods and Mills were each 3-0 against the Cardinals, while Racek and Alperstein both went 2-1 in Round 7.

In the final round of the afternoon, Vassar cruised past the Rangers of Drew, thanks to dominant sabre and foil crews. The foil team went 9-0, as Berger was 3-0, and VC's sabre team got three wins apiece from Woods and Mills. Alperstein was 2-0 as well against DU, and Swerzenski won his only bout after shaking off a nasty cut to win 5-4.

In all, eight fencers had 10 or more wins on the day, led by the 17-3 record from Mills in sabre and the 17-2 mark from Racek in foil. Holmes was 16-1 in foil as well for Vassar, while Polston chalked up a 15-5 record Sunday. Woods won 14 of his 17 bouts, and Alperstein finished 16-4 in epee. Berger also tallied a 13-4 mark on the afternoon for VC and Farley chalked up 11 wins in epee.

The Brewers foil team went 7-1 on the afternoon, with the epee group going 5-3 and the sabre team posting a 7-1 record as well. VC as a whole was 54-18 in sabre, 59-13 in foil and 46-26 in epee.

"Excellent start to the season for all squads," said head coach Bruce Gillman. "Undefeated on the day and finally triumphed over Stevens this year."

Vassar will be back in action next weekend, as the Brewers host the Matt Lampell Hudson River Invitational at 10 a.m. in Walker Field House. VC will also honor its four seniors, as Dammann, Farley, Woods and Clayton Marr will be honored before the festivities.