Jan. 21, 2012
QUEENS, N.Y.; - Just days after being ranked first in the USFCA College Fencing Coaches' Poll the Penn State fencers competed in the St. John's Invitational. The one-day event put the Nittany Lions up against some of the strongest teams in the country.
The men went 3-2 for the day, falling to St.John's, 13-15, and Ohio State, 9-18. They were victorious against Harvard, 17-10, Notre Dame, 14-13 and Columbia, 14-15. Strong individual performances were seen from team captain Aleksander Ochocki who finished the day 12-3 in the men's saber and Jeremy Goldstein who went 9-4 in the men's foil.
The women had a harder time ending the day 2-3. They took 15-12 victories over both St. John's and Notre Dame. The Nittany Lions failed to defeat Harvard, Columbia and Ohio State going 13-15, 13-15 and 12-15, respectfully. Individually, senior Monika Aksamit had an outstanding day going 11-4. Team captain Margherita Guzzi-Vincenti also went 11-4, in the epee. Freshman Alina Antokhina continued her strong debut as a Nittany Lion going 12-3 for the day.
Overall, Coach Emmanuil Kaidanov was pleased with Penn State's performance noting it was a "long, hard day".
Next up the Nittany Lions will host a one-day event in the White Building, Jan. 28. Action will begin at 8:30 a.m.