The Ohio State fencing program is on the verge of winning the MFC combined men's/women's title, after capturing the women's sabre team title earlier this afternoon (with a 5-4 team victory – and 5-4 final bout – in the title match versus homestanding Notre Dame). The OSU men also defeated ND in two weapons (foil and epee), while the Irish topped the Buckeyes in the men's sabre final.
Ohio State can claim the combined title by finishing higher than Notre Dame in either of the remaining events (women's foil and epee). ND actually has a shot to still win the combined championship, by winning both of the remaining events in conjunction with OSU losing in the semifinals of at least one weapon (more likely in epee, vs. Northwestern).
Notre Dame brought the more experienced team to the women's sabre strips today, led by senior Ashley Serrete (a 2007 NCAA entrant and owner of the most regular-season wins ever by an ND women's sabreists), along with the sophomore tandem of Sarah Borrmann ('08 NCAA champion) and Eileen Hassett (5th at '08 NCAAs). One day earlier, Borrmann won the MFC women's sabre individual title and Serrette impressively tied for third (Hassett ended up ninth, one spot behind ND newcomer Beatriz Almeida).
Ohio State's 2009 women's sabre roster includes no fencers with NCAA Tournament experience (following the graduation of four-year standouts Siobahn Byrne and Eileen Grench), but the OSU youngsters appear to be surging at the right time of the year. Sophomore Falencia Miller was third in Saturday's MFC women's sabre competition, while newcomer Margarita Tschomakova reached the title bout and fellow freshman Emily Cheng placed third.
Tschomakova sparked her team in the first bout against the Irish, posting a 5-1 win over Borrmann in a rematch of Saturday's title bout. Hassett responded with a 5-2 victory over Miller and Serrette's 5-3 bout with Cheng briefly gave the Irish the lead. Neither team led by more than one point in the entire match, with Miller scoring another key win over Borrmann (5-4) for a 2-2 team score before Tschomakova put OSU into the lead with a 5-1 victory over Serrette.
Hassett re-tied the score (3-3) after her 5-1 bout with Cheng, followed by Miller's 5-2 victory over Serrette. Borrmann's 5-4 win over Cheng forced a ninth bout, but Tschomakova completed her 3-0 match with a one-point victory over Hassett (securing the title by the narrowest of margins).
There was only one first-round upset in the women's sabre team matches, as #10 Wayne State edged #7 Indiana (5-4). All of the top four seeds went on to reach the semifinals, with #1 OSU and #2 ND making the final.
Results coming shortly from the women's foil and epee events.
2009 MIDWEST FENCING CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SABRE – Final
First Round
(1) Ohio State def. (16) Bowling Green, 5-0
(2) Notre Dame def. (15) Xavier, 5-2
(3) Northwestern def. (14) Iowa, 5-0
(4) Chicago def. (13) Illinois, 5-2
(5) Michigan State def. (12) Case Western, 5-0
(6) Michigan def. (11) Purdue, 5-0
(10) Wayne State def. (7) Indiana, 5-4
(8) Detroit def. (9) Wisconsin, 5-2
Quarterfinals
(1) Ohio State def. (8) Detroit, 5-1
(2) Notre Dame def. (10) Wayne State, 5-1
(3) Northwestern def. (6) Michigan, 5-2
(4) Chicago def. (5) Michigan State, 5-2
Semifinals
(1) Ohio State def. (4) Chicago, 5-3
(2) Notre Dame def. (3) Northwestern, 5-3
Final
(1) Ohio State def. (2) Notre Dame, 5-4