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Women's Fencing Ready to Start 35th Season as Squad Opens 2008-09 Campaign at
Temple
Open
HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 14, 2008) – Having reached the 10-win plateau for the past eight years, the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s fencing team is looking to build on the previous years as the program heads into the 35 year of varsity status in 2008-09. The Ducks return 11 fencers from a year ago and welcome seven incoming freshmen as well as five new faces to the program. Stevens will open up the season at the Temple Open on November 15 at 8:30 a.m.
Last year, the Ducks notched a 10-7 overall record as Stevens made school history having posted four finalists at the 2007 NIWFA Christmas Invitational. The Ducks also produced five Eastern Women’s Fencing Conference all-stars and an NIWFA second-team selection. The 2007-08 campaign also featured a bronze medal performance from the foil squad at the NIWFA Championships. The at the 2008 NCAA Regional Championships in Madison, N.J., senior epeeist Rachel Cannell (Asbury, N.J.) placed 11th-overall in the epee division. She is the second fencer in Stevens history to have accomplished this feat.
In 2008-09, Stevens will see one of the largest squads in program history as the Ducks have 23 student-athletes competing this year. As a whole, the team is stronger in some areas and hopes to use that to their advantage. The sabre squad is very solid as it did not lose anyone from a season ago. The team will be fronted by seniors Beatrice Wilson (Chatham, N.J.) and Laura Sodon (West Milford, N.Y.). Junior Erica Mondadori (Secaucus, N.J.) returns to the roster this season after a year off because of co-op. Also returning is sophomore Makeda Robinson (Lindenwood, N.J.) after a promising freshman campaign. Sodon earned a medal at the NIWFA Championships for having placed seventh a year ago.
The epee squad will be fronted by seniors Cannell and Sureen Roslan (Selangor, Malaysia). Cannell surpassed the 100 career-win mark a season ago and posted a 39-4 showing. She took home first-team honors from the EWFC. Cannell is tied for sixth all-time for most wins in a season and is second in win/loss percentage in a single year with a mark of .907. Furthermore, Cannell is fourth all-time in career wins and fifth with a .707 (106-44) win-loss percentage. Junior Alexis Sowuleski (Little Silver, N.J.) returns to the strips after Sowuleski finished in 24th in the women's epee division at the 2008 NCAA Regional Championships. Sophomore Megan Ritter (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) returns to the team after a solid freshman year.
The foil squad has a lot of depth as many members will be fighting for starting roles. Senior Fatimah Nisa Aziz (Petailing Jaya, Malaysia) will be entering her final season as a Duck after an impressive offseason of training. There are many newcomers expected to stir things up within the foil squad. Joining the team in 2008-09 are freshmen Alexandra Lyons (Trumbull, Conn.) and Alexis Clyburn (Hillside, N.J.). Lyons is a freshman eligibility wise as she made a move from playing women’s soccer at Stevens to the fencing squad.
Taking a look at the schedule, the Ducks have added some top fencing institutions to the list in 2008-09. Temple University and Brandies College are two opponents that Stevens is excited to test its talent against. The University of Detroit is new to the schedule as the Ducks are slated to take on Detroit during the Army Open. The EWFC Championships will once again be hosted by the Ducks on February 15. Stevens will look to improve on its individual marks from a season ago.
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