Quakers take 3 out of 4

W. Fencing team has a goodW. Fencing team has a goodday against top-ranked opponents As a freshman, Megumi Sakae got into hot water for telling a Daily Pennsylvanian reporter that the Penn women's fencing team "kicked ass" in its meet. Three years later, the All-American team captain was much more composed after her meet-clinching bout against Columbia. But no other words would have better described Saturday's overall performance at Pearson Hall by Sakae and the Quakers, who beat three of four top-ranked opponents. Heading into Sakae's final bout, the Quakers were trailing by a single point to the Lions. Sakae landed five direct hits on Columbia's Zela Ante, which created a 16-16 bout split. Penn won the tie-breaker on touches, 123-116. "Megumi Sakae came up big," Quakers freshman Meredith Galto said. "She pulled it out for us." However, the Quakers' victory was not a one-woman effort. Cindy Kwan defeated Columbia's prodigy, freshman Kaitlin Brown, who is a potential first-team all-America. And Penn epees Anastasia Gunzburg and Tammy Hancock also added three victories each. "We are very united as a team," Quakers senior Sarah Johns said. "We enjoy working with each other. It makes winning more fun. This is one advantage we have over other teams." "I was very proud of them," Penn coach Dave Micahnik said. "I was very happy with the result." But the Red and the Blue's romping did not end with a victory over Columbia. The Quakers (11-3) next defeated St. John's, 17-15. Sakae was perfect in her four bouts, while Gunzburg added three more clutch victories. Penn then took down host Temple, 19-13. Quakers junior Liz Cornfield, subbing for the injured Tammy Hancock, powered the epee charge with three hard-fought victories. Penn concluded the day by winning nine bouts to No. 2-ranked Penn State's 23 -- a strong showing against a team with a number of highly-touted Russian imports. Gunzburg, Johns and Sakae each contributed two wins against the top-notch opposition. Overall, the women's fencing team's effort Saturday was its finest of the season.

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