CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Brandeis University men's fencing team opened their day at the North Carolina Miller Invitational with a 17-10 win over Division III rival Johns Hopkins, then dropped three close matches before falling in their dual-meet season finale to top-ranked Notre Dame.

RESULTS

• #19 Brandeis 17, #16 Johns Hopkins 10
• #14 North Carolina 17, Brandeis 10
• #13 NYU 15, Brandeis 12
• #5 Duke 15, Brandeis 12
• #1 Notre Dame 25, Brandeis 2

 
TEAM RESULTS

• The Judges opened the day with a strong showing against  #16 Johns Hopkins, ranked three spots ahead of #19 Brandeis in USFCA National Rankings. Brandeis won 17-10, taking all three weapons against the Blue Jays, 6-3 each in saber and epee and 5-4 in foil.
• In a 17-10 loss to #14 North Carolina, the Judges were edged, 5-4 in saber and foil with the Tar Heels taking a 7-2 win in epee.
• The saber squad had a strong showing in Brandeis's next two matches, a 15-12 loss to #13 NYU and 15-12 defeat to #5 Duke. The Judges won 5-4 against the Violets and 6-3 against the Blue Devils. Men's epee lost both matches by a narrow 5-4 margin, while foil fell to NYU, 6-3, and 7-2 against Duke.
• The day ended with a 25-2 win for top-ranked Notre Dame against the Judges, with Brandeis picking up single wins in saber and foil.

SQUAD RESULTS

• Men's saber led the way, going 3-2 on the day, to finish their season with a team-best 22-10 record.
• The foil and epee squads lone wins came against JHU.
• Overall, Brandeis finishes its season with a 12-20 mark, 7-4 against Division III opponents.

TOP INDIVIDUALS

• Junior Lev BenAvram (Bethesda, Md./Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School) led the team with a 10-2 record in saber. He was 3-0 against John Hopkins and Duke and 2-1 against UNC and NYU.
• Senior Tony Escueta (Grand Prairie, Texas/Abeka Home School Academy) also posted a winning record in saber, going 8-7 with a 3-0 record against Johns Hopkins and 2-1 mark against NYU and Duke.
• Senior Mark Shamis (San Jose, Calif./Leigh) topped the epee squad with six wins, including a 3-0 mark against Hopkins and 2-1 against NYU.
• Sophomore Jack Sullivan (Somerville, Mass./Greater Commonwealth Virtual School) led the foil squad with five wins, going 2-1 against North Carolina and NYU.

UP NEXT

• The Judges are off until February 23^rd when they compete in the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference Championships at Mount Holyoke.