April 24, 2004
Boston, Mass. – The Notre Dame women’s rowing team won three of six races Saturday morning at the Women’s Council Cup on the Charles River. The No. 17 Irish varsity eight boat pulled off in impressive win in the featured race as that crew recorded its biggest win of the season against No. 15 Boston University.
The three competing teams – Notre Dame, host Boston University and Northeastern – rowed six events in the morning competition. In addition to its win in the varsity eight competition, the Irish crews also produced wins in the varsity four and novice four races.
Notre Dame’s varsity eight crew of Maureen Gibbons (cox), Natalie Ladine (stroke), Alice Bartek, Meghan Boyle, Rachel Polinski, Melissa Felker, Katie Chenowith, Danielle Protasewich and Jacqueline Hazen (bow) defeated the Boston University boat by less than two seconds with a winning time of 6;55.45. BU posted a time of 6;57.32, while Northeastern finished third in the race in 7:11.95.
“This was a great showing for our varsity eight boat and was certainly the best race to date for us this season,” head coach Martin Stone said. “We rowed very consistently from start to finish and it was just a solid performance from everyone in the boat. I like how we took control of the race from start to finish. Boston University won the second varsity eight race with a time of 7:21.04. Notre Dame second varsity eight crew of Kacy McCaffrey (cox), Kati Sedun (stroke), Kathleen Welsh, Jessica Guzik, Jenna Redgate, Elizabeth Specht, Megan Sanders, Danielle Stealy and Andrea Doud (bow) took second as they were clocked in 7:22.6. Northeastern was third with a time of 7:51.62.
Notre Dame had two boats in the varsity four race. The Irish “B” boat of Caitlin Rackish, Sarah Keefer (stroke), Meredith Thornburgh, Kristin Henkel and Tricia David beat out the Irish “A” crew of Kathryn Long (cox), Katie O’Hara (stroke), Kristen Mizzi, Pamela Jefson and Ashley St. Pierre (bow) by just under four seconds. The Irish “B” was victorious with a time of 8:14.65, while the Irish “A” finished in 8:18.03. Boston University was third in the race in 8:38.67.
In the novice races, Notre Dame took second in the novice eight race with the crew of Maria Romano (cox), Sara Kate Hafner (stroke), Ariel Klingaman, Alyssa Close, Beth Hatch, Danille Potts, Colleen Larson, Shannon Cassel and Sarah Shaw (bow) finishing with a time of 7:18. 27, less than three seconds from the winning time of 7:15.52. Northeastern finished more than eight seconds in back of the Irish boat in 7:26.79.
Notre Dame’s novice four boat of Eileen Froehlke (cox), Audrey deGuire (stroke), Jana Miller, Colleen McCotter and Kaitlin Sharkey (bow) were victorious over Boston University and Northeastern in the meet’s final race. No times were available for the race.
Notre Dame returns to action tomorrow (Sunday, April 25) when it races at the fourth annual BIG EAST Challenge at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.