The Harvard men's fencing team last night opened its season by downing M.I.T., 15-12, at the IAB, with foil turning in a 6-3 performance.

Sophomore Kevin McCarthy swept his three sabre bouts, while three other Harvard fencers dropped their matches in the last round, turning what might have been a rousing win overall into a dangerously close one.

"It's hard to fence up to potential once you're clinched the meet," said junior Co-Captain Jeff Levy, adding that on the whole the team's performance had been "sub-par."