PHILADELPHIA –The Cornell fencing team ran its undefeated start to the season to a record of 19-0 on Saturday, sweeping seven matches during the Philadelphia Invitational at Penn's Tse Sports Center.
 
Facing its toughest competition yet, Cornell – placed ninth in the USFCA Early Season Coaches Poll – defeated four other ranked programs during the afternoon rounds. Among those victories was a 15-12 decision over #10 Penn, marking the first time the Big Red has defeated the Quakers since the Ivy League Championships in 2013. Cornell entered the weekend as one of the six remaining unbeaten teams in the country.
 
Both the foil (51-12) and saber (50-13) squads were outstanding on the day, earning victories in all seven duals. Renata Chusid (11-1) and Alicia Hao (10-1) were the team's top foil perfomers, and Sterre Hoogendoorn (12-1) and Stella Berman (11-1) headlined a saber squad. Head coach Ariana Klinkov lauded the leadership of Gillian Harrill (6-4) for that group.
 
Megan Eno (9-4) led the epee squad, which came out on top in the first five matches of the day, including 5-4 advantages in 15-12 victories over Penn and #13 Duke. All 16 Big Red fencers won at least half of their respective bouts on the day.
 
The Big Red returns to action Feb. 5-6, when it travels to the Midwest for the Northwestern Invitational.
 

Cornell Results

• #9 Cornell def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 25-2
Foil 9-0, Epee 7-2, Saber 9-0
• #9 Cornell def. Haverford, 26-1
Foil 8-1, Epee 9-0, Saber 9-0
• #9 Cornell def. #10 Penn, 15-12
Foil 5-4, Epee 5-4, Saber 5-4
• #9 Cornell def. #14 North Carolina, 21-6
Foil 7-2, Epee 6-3, Saber 8-1
• #9 Cornell def. #13 Duke, 13-12
Foil 5-4, Epee 5-4, Saber 5-4
• #9 Cornell def. Wagner, 21-6
Foil 9-0, Epee 4-5, Saber 8-1
• #9 Cornell def. #15 NJIT, 15-12
Foil 8-1, Epee 1-8, Saber 6-3
 
Foil Squad (51-12)
Fairleigh Dickinson: 9-0
Haverford: 8-1
Penn: 5-4
North Carolina: 7-2
Duke: 5-4
Wagner: 9-0
NJIT: 8-1
 
Foil Members
Ying Cao: 12-2
Renata Chusid: 11-1
Alicia Hao: 10-1
Asherah Horsley: 10-4
Madeleine Nishimura: 8-4
 
Epee Squad (37-26)
Fairleigh Dickinson: 7-2
Haverford: 9-0
Penn: 5-4
North Carolina: 6-3
Duke: 5-4
Wagner: 4-5
NJIT: 1-8
 
Epee Members
Megan Eno: 9-4
Emma Ni: 9-7
Gabrielle Hill: 7-5
Clarice Lim: 7-6
Briana Parris: 4-3
 
Saber Squad (50-13)
Fairleigh Dickinson: 9-0
Haverford: 9-0
Penn: 5-4
North Carolina: 8-1
Duke: 5-4
Wagner: 8-1
NJIT: 6-3
 
Saber Members
Sterre Hoogendoorn: 12-1
Amit Hanadari-Levy: 12-3
Stella Berman: 11-1
Gillian Harrill: 6-4
Keona Moya: 3-1
Sarah Lacson: 3-3