The New York University Women's Fencing Team competed at the Sacred Heart Invitational, hosted by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, on Sunday, December 5.

The Violets had not competed since their opening tournament at Temple University on October 24 and were excited to get back on the strip as a team once again. 

The women won three of their six matches, defeating Temple University (16-11), currently ranked #8 by the USFCA (United States Fencing Coaches' Association). The Violets also defeated Vassar College (21-6) and host Sacred Heart (23-4), falling to #7 Penn State University (11-16), #4 Harvard University (12-15) and #3 Princeton University (8-19).

NYU is currently ranked #1 in Division III.

"We had a lot of really close bouts and we talked a lot about the difference between winning and losing being just one or two touches," said Assistant Coach Lauren Willock Wunderlich. "Having everybody just sit down and focus on the next match, focus on the next touch was really key for staying positive and working towards the rest of the wins."

In epee, Anna Lanzman (Brooklyn, NY/Stuyvesant) led the way for the Violets by winning 10 of her 15 bouts.  

"As soon as we walked into the Sacred Heart Athletic Facility it was hard to believe it had been two years since we were there," Lanzman said. "It was about getting back into the swing of things. There were a lot of nerves, but after that first bout we really found our groove and just kept going."

Maria Stamos (New York, NY/Bronx Science) was the Violets' top performer of the day, going 11-3 in foil.

Sharon Ni (Poquoson, VA/Peninsula Catholic HS) also had a very successful meet, winning 10 of her 16 bouts in sabre. 

The Violets will return to the strip on Saturday and Sunday, January 22-23, when they compete at the Philadelphia Invitational hosted by the University of Pennsylvania.