VARSITY EIGHT WINS FIRST RACE OF 2008 SEASON AGAINST RIT; EARNS CONFERENCE HONORS

Mar. 31: In their opening race of the 2008 campaign, the St. Lawrence University women’s crew squad split their two races against the Rochester Institute of Technology Saturday morning, with the highlight of the weekend coming after the varsity eight's first victory of the season in Rochester, NY.

The women’s varsity eight boat bested RIT on the 2,000-meter course, crossing the finish line with a time of 7:27, nearly 25 seconds ahead of the Tigers to take top honors. "The Varsity Eight rowed with good, workmanlike effort,” said Saints’ women’s head coach and director of rowing Nick Hughes. “I wouldn't say we sparkled with technical brilliance, but given that we've only been on the water for one week, it's nice to kick off our season with a win."

Saints in the boat, which was named Liberty League "Co-Boat of the Week" for its performance, included junior Michelle Hicks (Austin, TX/St. Stephen’s), sophomore Jane Connolly (New Canaan, CT/St. Luke’s), first-year Lizzy Stokes-Cawley (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles), junior Allie Friedman (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Seminary), sophomore Amelia Bell (Portland, OR/Grant), senior Kate Olsen (Muncy, PA/Muncy), sophomore Eloise LaChance (Philmont, NY/Taconic Hills), senior Amanda Dudley (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), and senior coxswain Renee Rubin (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington).

Despite holding a slight lead at the beginning of the piece, the Saints’ second varsity eight finished just behind RIT’s first boat, clocking in with a time of 8:04.

"It was a tale of two races for the 2V,” Hughes said.  “They got off the line well and rowed with sharpness to establish a length margin early on RIT's 1V.  But they didn't press their advantage and let RIT's varsity back on terms.  I think that rattled our cage a little, and the lack of a consensus response opened the door that RIT walked right through.  We learned some lessons about racing out there that we'll carry with us; I think we're better for having had the experience."

Racing in the second varsity boat was senior Caroline Hannigan (New Rochelle, NY/School of the Holy Child), senior Ann Seyse (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville), sophomore Katie Roy (Lake Placid, NY/Northwood School), junior Karen Wilcox (Ellenburg Depot, NY/Northern Adirondack), sophomores Erin Hussey (Biddeford, ME/Biddeford), Amelia Lalley (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca), and Brianna Kehl (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna), junior Jackie Costas (Greenwich, CT/Convent of the Sacred Heart), and first-year coxswain Liz Luciano.

The Novice four boat came in second to the Tigers’ novice squad, coming in at 9:47. The boat included first-years Erin Panek (Natick, MA/Natick), Maggie Wiener (Baltimore, MD/Bryn Mawr School for Girls), Tara Hetz (Charlotte, VT/Champlain Valley Union) sophomore Heather Demers (Shelburne, VT/Champlain Valley Union) and first-year coxswain Lauren Reed (Cortland, NY/Cortland)

"We boated out a fit, albeit inexperienced, lineup against some experienced first-year
rowers who've had quite a bit more water time than we have,” Hughes said. “The distinction was clear in the quality of rowing, although I think we have a ton of upside potential from a technical standpoint."

St. Lawrence will travel to Ithaca, NY on Saturday, April 12 to compete with the Bombers to help the Saints prepare for Liberty League action later on in April.

For complete race results, please click here.