STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford women’s fencing team began its 2014 season on Friday at the Arrillaga Center for Sports & Recreation, falling to Northwestern in a dual match, 17-10.
“We faced a very good team in Northwestern tonight,” said co-head coach Lisa Milgram. “We have a young group. They will be excited to face Northwestern and the rest of the teams tomorrow.”
Despite the loss to the Wildcats, Stanford’s epee group came out on top by a 5-4 count. Francesca Bassa and Vivian Kong each went 2-1 in competition while freshman May Peterson earned her first collegiate victory against Juliana Barrett.
“I am really proud of this team,” said Kong. “Everybody tried their best. We had some good fencing tonight and I am looking forward to facing Northwestern again tomorrow.”
The sabre was also a very tightly contested weapon with Northwestern edging out the Cardinal, 5-4. Freshman Stephanie Wang highlighted Stanford’s group with a 2-1 mark, including a victory in her first collegiate match against Julia Abelsky. Avery Youngblood and Alexa Rohan each claimed one victory.
“I was initially really nervous but that turned into excitement with so many people watching and cheering us on,” said Wang. “The team has been training really hard so it was nice to get out there and fence.”
Only two fencers competed for the Cardinal in the foil. With one fencer shy of the three required, Stanford lost three matches by default. Northwestern earned eight of the nine team points for the foil with freshman Eliza Klyce picking up the one Cardinal victory, 5-1, over Mikela Goldstein for her first college win.
The Stanford women and men will be in action on Saturday for the Western Invitational. The women start the day at 9 a.m. in a rematch against Northwestern. Both teams will then square off against Cal Tech, Florida, UC San Diego and Air Force the remainder of the day. The matches will be the first of the 2014 season for the men’s squad.
Northwestern 17, Stanford 10
Sabre
Avery Youngblood (Stanford) def. Alisha Gomez (Northwestern) 5-2
Cindy Oh (Northwestern) def. Alexa Rohan (Stanford) 5-4
Stephanie Wang (Stanford) def. Julia Abelsky (Northwestern) 5-1
Cindy Oh (Northwestern) def. Avery Youngblood (Stanford) 5-2
Alisha Gomez (Northwestern) def. Stephanie Wang (Stanford) 5-1
Alexa Rohan (Stanford) def. Julia Abelsky (Northwestern) 5-3
Stephanie Wang (Stanford) def. Cindy Oh (Northwestern) 5-3
Julia Abelsky (Northwestern) def. Avery Youngblood (Stanford) 5-3
Alisha Gomez (Northwestern) def. Alexa Rohan (Stanford) 5-4
Foil
Jennifer Yamin (Northwestern) def. Eliza Klyce (Stanford) 5-2
Charlotte Sands (Northwestern) won by default
Mikela Goldstein (Northwestern) def. Julia Klepner (Stanford) 5-2
Charlotte Sands (Northwestern) def. Eliza Klyce (Stanford) 5-1
Jennifer Yamin (Northwestern) def. Julia Klepner (Stanford) 5-1
Mikela Goldstein (Northwestern) won by default
Charlotte Sands (Northwestern) def. Julia Klepner (Stanford) 5-0
Eliza Klyce (Stanford) def. Mikela Goldstein (Northwestern) 5-1
Jennifer Yamin (Northwestern) won by default
Epee
Francesca Bassa (Stanford) def. Dina Bazarbayeva (Northwestern) 5-3
Courtney Dumas (Northwestern) def. Vivian Kong (Stanford) 5-4
May Peterson (Stanford) def. Juliana Barrett (Northwestern) 5-2
Francesca Bassa (Stanford) def. Courtney Dumas (Northwestern) 5-2
Dina Bazarbayeva (Northwestern) def. May Peterson (Stanford) 5-2
Vivian Kong (Stanford) def. Juliana Barrett (Northwestern) 5-2
Courtney Dumas (Northwestern) def. May Peterson (Stanford) 5-4
Juliana Barrett (Northwestern) def. Francesca Bassa (Stanford) 5-4
Vivian Kong (Stanford) def. Dina Bazarbayeva (Northwestern) 5-2