Jan. 22, 2011

2011 NYU Invitational
Result: Northwestern posts 4-2 record on the afternoon
Site: Cole Sports Center • New York, N.Y.
Record: Northwestern: 9-2 (.818) in dual meets
Up Next: 2011 Philadelphia Invitational • Sunday, January 23

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Seventh-ranked Northwestern had a productive afternoon at the 2011 NYU Invitationals, posting four victories in its six dual meets on the day. The Wildcats improve to 9-2 in dual meets this season.

"It was a good outing for our girls," said head coach Laurie Schiller. "We fenced well throughout the day and got some big wins. The matches that we lost, we were literally just a couple of touches away from winning those as well. So I was pleased with the effort."

Northwestern, ranked seventh in the USFCA Coaches Poll released earlier this week, was tested early and often on the afternoon, drawing sixth-ranked Columbia in the day's opening meet. But behind a 9-0 effort from the foil squad, the Wildcats knocked off the higher-ranked Lions 15-12 before easily getting past Yale 20-7, sparked by an 8-1 record by the sabre.

Two tough conference matchups awaited Northwestern, beginning with top-ranked Notre Dame. The Wildcats were able to hang tough with the Fighting Irish, but a couple key touches helped Notre Dame prevail 16-11.

Northwestern and 10th-ranked Ohio State then staged the match of the afternoon as the two conference rivals battled it out touch for touch. The Wildcat's epée team led the way with a 7-2 record against the Buckeyes while the foil squad took the 5-4 advantage. But the difference came in the sabre as Northwestern dropped four bouts by a 5-4 margin as Ohio State escaped with the 14-13 decision over the Wildcats.

But the letdown against the Buckeyes was pushed aside quickly as Northwestern responded to roar past its final two opponents, downing Wayne State 20-7 before routing host NYU 24-3 as all three squads posted an 8-1 record in the day's finale.

All three weapons posted winning records on the afternoon, led by the foil's squad's 40-14 mark as it won all six matches on the day. The Wildcat epeeists were 4-2 on the day, posting a combined mark of 33-21, while the sabre was 3-3 with a 30-24 record.

Schiller's Wildcats will have little time to savor the afternoon as they now head south to the City of Brotherly Love for the 2011 Philadelphia Invitational on Sunday, January 23. Northwestern will face two more top-10 teams in eighth-ranked Penn and ninth-ranked Temple. Drew, Johns Hopkins, NJIT and Sacred Heart are also on the Sunday schedule for the Wildcats.

2011 NYU Invitational Results

No. 7 Northwestern 15, No. 6 Columbia 12
Epée: 4-5; Foil: 9-0; Sabre: 2-7

No. 7 Northwestern 20, Yale 7
Epée: 5-4; Foil: 7-2; Sabre: 8-1

No. 1 Notre Dame 16, No. 7 Northwestern 11
Epée: 2-7; Foil: 5-4; Sabre: 4-5

No. 10 Ohio State 14, No. 7 Northwestern 13
Epée: 7-2; Foil: 5-4; Sabre: 1-8

No. 7 Northwestern 20, Wayne State 7
Epée: 7-2; Foil: 6-3 Sabre: 7-2

No. 7 Northwestern 24, NYU 3
Epée: 8-1; Foil: 8-1; Sabre: 8-1

Total Team Scores:
Epée: 33-21; Foil: 40-14; Sabre: 30-24