PHILADELPHIA - After a two-month break, the Lafayette fencing team returned to action in 2017 for the first time and competed in the Philadelphia Invitational on Saturday afternoon hosted by the U of Penn.

The day began on the strip against Duke, where the Blue Devils ultimately got the best of the Leopards. Lafayette picked up a single victory once junior Alex Gorloff claimed a 5-3 decision in sabre.

The Leopards resumed play against Drew and sophomore Andrew Mange got things started with a pair of victories at foil. Lafayette saw most of its success in the epee, where senior Conrad Stoerker grabbed two victories, while freshman Uche Anomnachi and sophomore Sam McQuillin each had one. In sabre, Gorloff once again led Lafayette with two bout wins.

After falling to Johns Hopkins, the Leopards wrapped up the day against NJIT. Stoerker took a pair of bouts in epee against the Highlanders before the sabres got started and freshman Ian Miller went 3-0. Classmate Patrick Rekieta also claimed a victory, but NJIT was able to edge the Leopards, 5-4 in sabre.

The Leopards will resume play on Saturday, Jan. 28 for a road contest at Cornell.