The Harvard women's fencing team just keeps on breaking records.

In its first four years, the Crimson was the Ivy League doormat, losing its first 16 Ivy contests. And now this year, after qualifying for the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive year, Harvard won its first contest in national competition.

The swordswomen finished eighth in the NCAA Championships held Monday through yesterday in Princeton, and junior Captain Penelope Papailias finished 10th in the individual competition.

Harvard finished 10th overall last year in its first-ever NCAA appearance, and, with a team that includes no seniors, moved up to the eighth spot this year.

The Crimson got off to a good start, defeating North Carolina, 9-5, in the first round.

From there, however, it was all downhill.

The Crimson went on to lose its final four contests, including falling to the two finalists, Wayne St. and Notre Dame.

Wayne St. defeated the Irish, 9-6, to capture the NCAA Championship.

Number-one seed Notre Dame routed the Crimson, 9-3, in the second round.

Then came what Papailias called "the tragedy of the day."

Harvard held a 6-4 lead over Penn St., but the Nittany Lions rallied past the Crimson, 8-6.

"When we needed it," Papailias said, "we just didn't have it."

Foiled

The Crimson was then fencing for fifth place, but Fairleigh Dickinson foiled Harvard, 9-5, and Wayne St. finished off the Crimson, 9-6.

Papailias qualified for the individaul competition for the third consecutive year, finishing 10th in the field of 24. The junior qualified two weeks ago with a second-place finish in the NCAA regionals.