Eastern Women's Fencing Conference

Laura Sodon Recognized as EWFC Woman of the Year

HOBOKEN, N.J. (June 2, 2009) - Eastern Women's Fencing Conference Commissioner Damion Jones has announced the selection of Stevens Institute of Technology senior Laura Sodon as the recipient of the league's second EWFC  Woman of the Year award. This honor - implemented to annually recognize the senior fencer who best combines the triple standards of excellence in academics, success in athletics, and participation in extracurricular activities - was decided through a postseason vote by the conference's head coaches.

Sodon, a Mathematics major from West Milford, NJ, capped her four-year career as a saber competitor with a standout 2008-09 season. The team leader for the Ducks was named an EWFC First Team All-Star, compiled a 14-4 record at the EWFC Dual Meet Championships, placed fifth at the EWFC Individual Championships, finished 17th at the NIWFA Christmas Invitational, and concluded her career with a 25th place showing at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. She was also an Academic All-NIWFA honoree.

Away from the strips, Sodon has been involved in a diverse array of extracurricular activities. Her resume includes participation in the Concert Band, WCPR Radio Station, and Anime Club at Stevens Institute of Technology. The four-time EWFC All-Star has been a mainstay on the Dean's List during her distinguished career with the Ducks as well.

Six fencers receiving honorable mention accolades for this season's EWFC Woman of the Year selection were Drew University senior Naomi Bocarsly, Hunter College senior Janill Briones, Johns Hopkins University senior Ying Guo, Yeshiva University senior Sophia Marmor, Haverford College senior Melanie Preston, and City College of New York senior Kristel Shu.

The Eastern Women's Fencing Conference is now wrapping up its ninth year of existence. Charter members City College of New York, Hunter College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Yeshiva University were joined by Drew University for the 2002-03 championships, Haverford College in the 2005-06 season, and Johns Hopkins University as of the 2007-08 campaign. Haverford College won the league's dual meet championship for the first time ever with an unblemished 6-0 record at this year's conference finals.

Eastern Women's Fencing Conference 2009 All-Star Team Announced

HOBOKEN, NJ (February 22, 2009) - Eastern Women's Fencing Conference commissioner Damion Jones has officially announced the 2008-09 EWFC All-Star Team. The squad, consisting of 27 student-athletes, was selected based upon their performances at the third annual EWFC Individual Championships, which were held on February 22 at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Foil Fencer of the Year honors were earned by Jen Hession of Johns Hopkins University. The Foil First Team All-Stars were Sofia DeBenedictis of Johns Hopkins University, Jessica Wang from City College of New York, Alexandra Lyons from Stevens Institute of Technology, and Amanda Levinson of Haverford College. Named as Foil Second Team All-Stars were Rebecca Church of Haverford College, Sarah Jafferali from City College of New York, Christina Lio of Hunter College, and Khairun Nisa Aziz from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Epee Fencer of the Year accolades went to Emma Buckingham of Haverford College for the second straight season. The Epee First Team All-Stars were Drew University tandem Allison Walters and Katie Galpin, Centhia Obi of Hunter College, and Meagan Ritter from Stevens Institute of Technology. Tabbed as Epee Second Team All-Stars were Ying Guo of Johns Hopkins University, Naomi Bocarsly from Drew University, Melanie Preston of Haverford College, and Lynette Peguero from City College of New York.

Saber Fencer of the Year laurels were collected by Alicia Rapp of Drew University. The Saber First Team All-Stars were Hunter College duo Nicole Schirmer and Stella Shifren, Carlin MacNichol of Drew University, and Laura Sodon from Stevens Institute of Technology. Recognized as Saber Second Team All-Stars were Stevens Institute of Technology twosome Erica Mondodori and Krista Stucco, Amanda Tarallo of Drew University, and Katie Herman from Johns Hopkins University.

Yeshiva University topped a vote of the league's teams for this year's Roi Green Memorial Team Spirit Award. This prize, named in remembrance of the late City College of New York coach, was established to annually acknowledge the squad which best exhibits the ideals of civility in competition, fair play, and sportsmanship that were championed by Green throughout his career.

City College of New York picked up the Coaching Staff of the Year award for the second consecutive season. Head coach Paul Yuen and his staff guided the Beavers to a fifth place finish at the EWFC Dual Meet Championships, hosted by Haverford College on February 15, and were hailed by the league's coaches for improving the team's position in the conference standings for the third year in a row.

Haverford College won the EWFC dual meet championship for the first time ever with a 6-0 record. Johns Hopkins University landed in the runner-up spot with a 5-1 showing. Drew University went 4-2 and had its impressive six-year run as the league's leading program ended with a third-place finish. Stevens Institute of Technology (3-3), City College of New York (2-4), Hunter College (1-5), and Yeshiva University (0-6) rounded out the standings.

The EWFC is now enjoying its ninth year of existence. Charter members City College of New York, Hunter College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Yeshiva University were joined by Drew University for the 2002-03 championships, Haverford College in the 2005-06 season, and Johns Hopkins University as of the 2007-08 campaign.

EWFC 2008-09 ALL-STAR TEAM

FOIL FENCER OF THE YEAR
- Jen Hession (Johns Hopkins University) FOIL FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
- Sofia DeBenedictis (Johns Hopkins University)
- Jessica Wang (City College of New York)
- Alexandra Lyons (Stevens Institute of Technology)
- Amanda Levinson (Haverford College)
FOIL SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
- Rebecca Church (Haverford College)
- Sarah Jafferali (City College of New York)
- Christina Lio (Hunter College)
- Khairun Nisa Aziz (Stevens Institute of Technology)

EPEE FENCER OF THE YEAR
- Emma Buckingham (Haverford College)
EPEE FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
- Allison Walters (Drew University)
- Centhia Obi (Hunter College)
- Meagan Ritter (Stevens Institute of Technology)
- Katie Galpin (Drew University)
EPEE SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
- Ying Guo (Johns Hopkins University)
- Naomi Bocarsly (Drew University)
- Melanie Preston (Haverford College)
- Lynette Peguero (City College of New York)

SABER FENCER OF THE YEAR
- Alicia Rapp (Drew University)
SABER FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
- Nicole Schirmer (Hunter College)
- Carlin MacNichol (Drew University)
- Stella Shifren (Hunter College)
- Laura Sodon (Stevens Institute of Technology) SABER SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
- Erica Mondodori (Stevens Institute of Technology)
- Amanda Tarallo (Drew University)
- Katie Herman (Johns Hopkins University)
- Krista Sticco (Stevens Institute of Technology)

COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
- City College of Technology

ROI GREEN MEMORIAL TEAM SPIRIT AWARD
- Yeshiva University

Haverford Wins 2009 EWFC Dual Meet Title

HAVERFORD, Pa. (February 15, 2009) – The 2009 Eastern Women's Fencing Conference championship came down to the sixth round match-up between the two newest teams in the league, Haverford College and Johns Hopkins, and it was the host Fords who pulled out a 14-13 victory over the Blue Jays to give Haverford their first EWFC crown.

Their 6-0 record on the day allowed Haverford to end the six-year title run of Drew (N.J.) University (4-2 on the day) who finished third in the team standings behind runner-up Hopkins (5-1).

"Last year [when the Fords finished third] our women started the day thinking, 'these teams are really good'," said Haverford head coach Chris Spencer. "But this season we've battled some very tough opponents in Princeton, Duke, Temple, and Harvard, for example, so we came in to the championship thinking, 'we've seen maybe some of the best, and right now we believe we can win this'," explained the second year coach.

The nine-year EWFC saw only its third champion crowned with the Haverford victory. Stevens won the first two titles followed by Drew's six year run.

The seven teams will head back into their own salle's this week to prepare for the EWFC Individual Championships next weekend on Sun., Feb. 22, hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.

Final 2009 EWFC Team Standings:
1.    Haverford College, 6-0
2.    Johns Hopkins, 5-1
3.    Drew, 4-2
4.    Stevens, 3-3
5.    CCNY, 2-4
6.    Hunter, 1-5
7.    Yeshiva, 0-6