Jan. 19, 2014
Virginia Beach, Va. – University of Notre Dame fencers continued competition at the North American Cup on Sunday, and a day after domination by Irish foilists, it was women’s epeeists Ashley Severson and Nicole Ameli who shined for the Irish.
Severson medaled in the Div. I Women’s Epee event, while Ameli finished in a respectable 21st place. Severson was 5-1 in the pools, and went on to direct elimination with the No, 10 seed. Ameli for her part, was 4-2 in the pools and entered direct elimination play with a share of the No. 39 seed.
Severson was undefeated up to the semi-finals, where she was just barely out-touched by 2013 NCAA third-place finisher Margherita Guzzi-Vincenti, 15-14. Guzzi-Vincenti went on to win the competition, besting Alina Ferdman 15-6.
Ameli beat Naraye Williams 13-10, and went on to out-duel Lauren Rath 15-9. She was ousted in the round of 32 by Ferdman, before dropping a 15-9 bout to Mandeep Bhinder in the repechage bracket.
Women’s epee wasn’t the only event of the day, as freshman men’s foilist Hazem Khazbek finished tied in 20th place in the Junior Men’s Foil event. Khazbek was undefeated in pool play, and entered direct elimination in a tie for the No. 9 seed.
Khazbek advanced into the round of 32 after beating Michael Hastings Grgas 15-4 and Daniel Holley 15-8. Once there, he fell in a close contest to Aiden Ahn, 15-12.
Div. I Men’s Sabre also competed late Sunday afternoon, and Notre Dame’s two 2013 NCAA combatants John Hallsten and Kevin Hassett held their own in the 167-man field. Hallsten notched a 4-2 mark in pool play, and beat Nitikorn Dornjandaeng 15-14, before losing to Michael Josephs 15-13 in the round of 64. Hassett also made it to the round of 64, where he was upset by Jeff Spear 15-7 to finish out the day.
Notre Dame’s trip to Virginia Beach finishes tomorrow, with the Junior Men’s Epee, Div. I Women’s Foil and Junior Women’s Sabre events. Check back to und.com for full results.
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