CLEVELAND, OH (January 21, 2017) – The Vassar College women's fencing team started the 2017 portion of its season in fine style on Saturday, going an unblemished 6-0 at the Cleveland State University Duals in action from Woodling Gymnasium.
Vassar moved to 17-9 on the season with the six victories, earning at least 19 bout wins in all six matches. VC started the day with a 23-4 win over host Cleveland State, followed by a 27-0 whitewashing of Detroit-Mercy in round two. VC would follow with a 24-3 defeat of McKendree University, topping Case Western Reserve University 21-6 in round four.
In round five, the Brewers topped the University of Michigan 19-8 in the closest outing of the afternoon, and VC took the rematch with Cleveland State 21-6 in the nightcap to complete the six-win day. In the opening match Vassar saw the sabre team step up against the hosts, as Stephanie Gull and Annie Innes-Gold each went 3-0. Innes-Gold was fencing for the first time in 2016-17, as she returned from a semester abroad. VC also won six bouts in foil, led by sophomore Mirit Rutishauser and her 2-1 mark.
The second round saw Vassar breeze by a depleted Detroit team, but VC saw Rose Hulsey-Vincent start at epee against McKendree with a perfect 3-0 mark. Innes-Gold also chalked up three more wins for VC at sabre.
In the match with Case Western, Gull was a perfect 3-0 in sabre to help her squad to a 6-3 win, while foil was 8-1 thanks to three victories from Rutishauser, and two apiece from Sophie Blumenstock and senior Elsa Stoff. Senior Olivia Weiss was 3-0 against the Spartans, including two bouts won in sudden death overtime.
Against the Wolverines of Michigan, Rutishauser and Blumenstock continued to dominate with three more triumphs, while Hulsey-Vincent's 3-0 mark helped the epee team pick up the weapon win with a 5-4 decision. The sabre team also picked up a 5-4 win over Michigan, thanks to some fancy fencing from Innes-Gold, who won three bouts using attack au fer and riposte tactics.
In the final round of action, Vassar saw another strong match as Rutishauser finished her stellar day with another unbeaten 3-0 mark. In similar fashion, Innes-Gold nabbed three more wins, while Victoria Majarali also earned two wins in foil for the Brewers.
On the day, the Brewers chalked up 17 squad wins, as Vassar's epee and foil teams were perfect. Vassar will continue its road trip next weekend, opening Northeast Fencing Conference action at Brown University at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 28 against Brandeis University, Boston College, Brown and Tufts University.
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