Domination and finesse were the words of the day Saturday for the Harvard men's and women's fencing teams.

In a triangular match with MIT and Boston University at the Malkin Athletic Center, the men beat the Engineers, 15-9, before stomping the Terriers, 20-7.

The women fared just as well, stomping the Engineers, 15-1 and then crushing the Terriers in a 16-0 shutout.

"We fenced at a higher level than ever before," senior sabre specialist Charles Bertrand said.

"The bouts were really short," women's co-captain Mayling Birney said. "We took the initiative our selves."

Pregame Ceremonies

Prior to the meet, a ceremony was held in honor of MIT coach Eric Sollee '52, who is retiring this season. Saturday's meet was his last at the MIT helm.

Sollee was the captain of Harvard's 1952 fencing team. In appreciation of the friendly MIT Harvard rivalry over the years, Harvard Head Coach Ben Zivkovic presented Sollee with a Harvard Fencing t-shirt.

The Men

The men's team enjoyed success with each weapon.

The foil team won seven of its nine matches against MIT with a quick, aggressive style.

"I think that Harvard sabre fenced its most confident bouts today, and it showed in the score," junior Peter Tang said.

"Our strategy was to rush at them so they wouldn't have enough time to think," freshman Ed Kim said. "We surprised them."

Kim also thought that preparation made a difference in the team's fortunes.

"I came here at 10 a.m. to get prepared," he said.