Nov. 21, 2004

Columbia men's fencing defeated Harvard, 14-13, in a thrilling match between two of the nation's and Ivy League's best squads. Bill Verigan and Michael Dreyfus won consecutive overtime bouts to clinch the match for the Lions. The women's team lost, 19-8, to a very strong Crimson squad.

In an incredibly even match, the Lions held leads of 5-4 and 10-8 over the visiting Crimson before having to rally from within a touch of losing twice in the last two bouts. Verigan (Wyckoff, N.J.), who had lost his first two bouts of the match, trailed Edward Sherill 4-2 with the Lions trailing 13-12 in the match. Verigan won the next two touches to draw even, forcing the bout into overtime. Harvard won priority for overtime, forcing Verigan to go on the attack. With little time left in the overtime session, the junior epeeist scored the touch that kept the Lions alive.

Michael Dreyfus (Great Neck, N.Y.) faced off with Julian Rose of Harvard for the match in the final bout at epee. Rose, who finished in the top 20 at the NCAA championships last season, jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the bout before Dreyfus won the next two touches. After Rose leveled the bout at 3-3, a double touch five seconds before the end of regulation heightened the drama. Once again Harvard won priority, but Dreyfus was able to take the match with a well-earned touch.

All three men's weapons finished with 5-4 scores with the Lions taking men's saber and foil and the Crimson winning epee, despite Verigan and Dreyfus's heroics. At saber sophomore Alex Krul (Los Angeles, Calif.) won all three of his bouts including an impressive 5-2 victory over Tim Hagamen. Paul Reyfman (New York, N.Y.) went 2-1.

Scott Sugimoto (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) won all three of his bouts at foil including a victory over Enoch Woodhouse, an All-American last season. Sugimoto also scored a crucial win over Phillip Sherrill in the first bout of the last set to keep the Lions in the match. Calvin Chen went 2-1, also defeating Woodhouse.

First-year Gershom Gannon-O'Gara lost two of his bouts, but his come from behind victory over Julian Rose proved a vital upset for the Lions as the victory, coupled with Sugimoto's win over Woodhouse, helped swing the momentum in Columbia's favor.

Unfortunately for the Lions, the women's team was not as successful. The Lions suffered a tough loss as they were handed a 19-8 defeat. With each weapon featuring a first-year in their first competitive match, the Lions fell behind early and rallied too late. Emma Baratta went 2-1 for the Lions at women's saber, suffering just the third loss of her career in over 80 bouts. Alexie Rubin got her season off to a strong start by going 2-1 as well. Danielle Gordet won her first collegiate bout with a 5-1 at women's saber and Maxine Stachel picked up a victory in her lone bout of the day.

The Lions are back in action in January as the travel to the North American Cup. They are back at the University Gym on February 5th.

W. Saber
C. Robinson, 1-2
E. Barattta, 2-1
D. Gordet, 1-2

W. Epee
R. Rowe, 1-2
A. Rubin, 2-1
M. Midgley, 0-2
M. Stachel, 1-0

W. Foil
M. Losonczy, 0-3
K. Reckling, 0-3
S. Loh, 0-3

M. Saber
A. Krul, 3-0
P. Reyfman, 2-1
J. Williams, 0-2
L. Clement, 0-1

M. Epee
B. Verigan, 1-2
M. Dreyfus, 2-1
G. Gannon-O'Gara, 1-2

M. Foil
C. Chen, 2-1
S. Sugimoto, 3-0
J. Sinkin, 0-3