LA JOLLA, Calif. – Wellesley College fencing opened the second half of the season on Saturday evening in southern California, dropping a 17-10 final to the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). Wellesley is now 14-8 overall on the season. 

Wellesley senior Taylor Hood (Lexington, Ky.) posted a perfect 3-0 mark to lead the Blue to a 6-3 win in foil, but Wellesley dropped 7-2 decisions in both epee and sabre to fall to the host Tritons.

Hood and sophomore Brie Maurer (Fredericksburg, Va.) staked the Blue to an early 2-0 lead in foil, before UCSD took the next two bouts to tie the match, 2-2. First year Lucille Tsao (Succasunna, N.J.) and Hood responded with back-to-back Blue victories to make the score 4-2, but UCSD got within one with a victory to open the third round. However, Maurer and Hood clinched the 6-3 win with two wins to close out the third round. 

Sophomore Meg Harney (Wilmette, Ill.) and first year Lauren Park (Wayne, N.J.) opened sabre with back-to-back victories for the Blue, but the Tritons responded by taking the next seven bouts to clinch the weapon. In epee, first year Julia Calventus-Coveney (Barcelona, Spain) earned both Blue bout victories in the 7-2 setback.

Wellesley will continue the season on Tuesday, January 30, at 7:00 PM when they head to Brandeis for the annual midweek match-up between the two long-time rivals.