A record of 9-0 has a nice ring to it. Unfortunately for the Harvard women's fencing team, Yale prefers the sound of 8-1, a preference the Elis translated into victory Saturday by ambushing Harvard, 10-6, at Yale's payse Whitney Gymnasium.

Missed opportunities plagued the Crimson throughout the day as it repeatedly lost bouts, 5-4. Debbie Sze, who has won at least three bouts in all this year's earlier meets, lost three bouts, 5-4, and captain Nancy Cooper also lost more than once for the first time this season in recording a 1-3 slate.

With the Crimson down 5-4 after a heartening victory by Leslie Feder, who also chalked up 1-3, Sze lost a particularly crucial bout. After climbing back from 4-3 to tie the duel at 4-4, she fell to Yale's Peacock.

Cooper had one 5-4 loss, to Yale's Jennifer Albert in her second bout. Distracted by some controversy on the nearby men's strip over a particular call, Cooper's concentration wavered and Albert took advantage.

One Crimson fencer did perform well, Kathy Lowry. Lowry took all but one of her four bouts in demonstrating the type of aggressive fencing that brought the Crimson its first eight victories.

Harvard has an early chance to redeem itself this Tuesday against Brandeis which finished second in the New England Women's tournament last year. After all, 9-1 doesn't sound all that bad.