FAIRFIELD, CT – The Vassar women's fencing team closed 2019 with the competitive Sacred Heart Invitational on Sunday, going 1-5 on the day against a field of mainly Division I schools. The epee squad led the Brewers with 21 bout victories, while sophomore Rosie Parker (Portland, OR) led Vassar with nine individual wins.
The Brewers opened against Brown, falling 11-16. The epee trio of Parker, junior Shannon Chen (Westford, MA), and sophomore Chloe Chinnadurai (Denville, NJ) posted a 5-4 victory against the Bears. Parker and Chinnadurai both went 2-1 in the opening bout. Vassar recorded its only victory in the next round, defeating Sacred Heart 18-9. The Brewers won all three weapon groups with foil going 8-1 and sabre and epee tallying 5-4 marks. In foil, sophomores Tori Lubin (Westport, CT) and Zoe Tolbert (Olympia, WA) both went 2-0. Parker and Chinnadurai went 2-1 in the second round, while Nicoletta Dinelli (Talent, OR) and Elise Poniatowski (West Roxbury, MA) had 2-1 marks at sabre.
Vassar took on NYU in the next round but fell 10-17. Epee won their third straight behind a 3-0 sweep from Chinnadurai and another 2-1 showing by Parker. At foil, freshman Jenna Waibel (Pompton Lakes, NJ) tacked on two wins to lead the squad.
The next three rounds proved to be even tougher. Vassar fell 1-26 to Princeton in the fourth and then dropped a 4-23 decision to Penn State the following series. The Brewers then wrapped up the day with a 6-21 loss to Temple. A highlight against the Owls' was Parker's 3-0 sweep to close out her epee performance.
Vassar returns to action after winter break on Jan. 19 for the Vassar Invitational.
