Eighth-Ranked Fencing Looks to Repeat Past Success at Saturday's Philadelphia Invitational

Saturday, January 21

Philadelphia, Pa. (Penn)

All Day

Temple University

Philadelphia Invitational (Cornell, Northwestern, Penn, Sacred Heart, Duke)

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Eighth-Ranked Fencing Looks to Repeat Past Success at Saturday's Philadelphia Invitational

1.19.17 | Women's Fencing

PHILADELPHIA - The last time Temple fencing competed at a full Philadelphia Invitational in 2015, the Owls (12-4) ran the table with a 5-0 record including wins over two higher-ranked Top 10 teams. Eighth-ranked Temple will look for the same success as the Owls make their return to the tournament on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Penn.

The Owls' day begins at 11:30 a.m. with a dual match against #9 Northwestern, and continues after a lunch break at 1:30 p.m. against the top team receiving votes in the College Fencing 360 Poll, Duke. Temple will face Sacred Heart at 3 p.m., Cornell at 4:30 p.m. and will finish the day against host #6 Penn at 6 p.m.

Three of Temple's opponents are ones they have faced already this season. The Owls defeated Cornell 20-7 at Penn's Elite Invitational on Nov. 5, took down Sacred Heart 22-5 on Dec. 4 and beat Duke 16-11 just last weekend at the Penn State Invitational.

In its only meeting with city rival Penn last season, the Owls were defeated 15-12 in a close match at their own Temple Invitational. Two years ago they split with the Quakers, losing 15-12 but rebounding with a 14-13 win just one week later.

Temple is coming off a 4-2 weekend at the Penn State Invitational, losing only to defending national champion Columbia and by one point to nationally ranked Penn State. Overall, the Owls are 12-4 in dual meets.

Freshman Malia Hee continued to impress last weekend, going 9-2 overall for sabre, while freshman Kennedy Lovalace posted an 11-7 record for the foil squad in fencing every single match of the day. Epee had three fencers with seven wins as senior Alexandra Keft went 7-2, sophomore Quinn Duwelius went 7-3 and freshman Camille Simmons finished a perfect 7-0.

After Saturday's meet, Temple will have a weekend off before heading to the Northwestern Duals to face 12 opponents over two days from Feb. 4-5.