Schneider Takes Silver Medal at North American Cup, Missing Gold by Two Points

Saturday, January 16

San Jose, Calif.

Noon EST

Columbia University

North American Cup

Schneider Takes Silver Medal at North American Cup, Missing Gold by Two Points

1/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Fencing

By: Columbia University Athletics

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Senior co-captain Daria Schneider barely missed a gold medal at the North American Cup Saturday when she reached the championship match in the Division I Elite Senior Women's Sabre competition at the San Jose Convention Center.

Schneider, ranked fourth nationally, lost to her U.S. National Team teammate, Dagmara Wozniak, by just two points (touches), 15-13. Wozniak, who fences for St. John's, is ranked third.

Schneider, an All-American and former NCAA champion, reached the championship match by posting a clutch 15-12 win over Sarah Borrmann of Penn State, the 2008 NCAA champion, in the semifinals. Columbia sophomore Sammy Roberts also competed at San Jose, reaching the round of 16 in Elite Senior Women's Sabre. Roberts, ranked 13th nationally, missed advancing to the round of eight by just one touch.

As pleased as head coach George Kolombatovich was by the showing of his two women's sabre standouts, he was equally heartened by stellar performances from Columbia's incoming Early Decision recruits. One fencer reached the championship bout in Senior Women's Foil, missing the gold by a 12-9 score; another came within a few touches of a medal in Junior Men's Epee.

Sunday's fencing at the Convention Center will see several top Lions in action, including seniors Jeff Spear and Alex Rudnicki in Men's Sabre, sophomore Neely Brandfield-Harvey and first-year Lydia Kopecky in Women's Epee, and first-year Eddie Grigoriev in Men's Foil. The competition continues through Monday.