Team USA Downs Italy

The US team of Susie Scanlan , Courtney Hurley , and Maya Lawrence downed Italy in today’s opening round match 45-35 as reserve Kelley Hurley cheered them on. The US team will face Korea in the semi-finals. The US team kept to a strategy of limiting Italy’s opportunities and forcing the Italian team to attack - opening up more chances by the US fencers to score on counters and use the clock as another ally on strip. Down 20-18 at the end of four bouts, Lawrence took control of the bout for Team USA with a 4-0 win against Rosella Fiamingo. Courtney Hurley then blistered Bianca del Carretto 8-3 to put the US up by 7 touches, 30-23. Mara Navarria was the star for Italy, going 7-4 against Courtney Hurley in the 2nd round, 6-4 against Scanlan and 7-5 against Lawrence. Navarria was only able to cut the US lead to 5 points, however, and Scanlan and Hurley closed out their bouts to advance team USA to the semi-final round. Korea defeated top seed Romania 45-38. The US and Korea have met once before this season. In that match the US team posted a 44-42 win. In the other half of the bracket, #3 China defeated #6 Germany 45-42 and #2 Russia downed the Ukraine 45-34. China and Russia will meet in the other semi-final match. Match details: USA vs. Italy (via London2012.com)