May 3, 2004

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The 19th-ranked Orangewomen rowing team won two of the three races it entered against No. 18 Massachusetts and Villanova on Saturday, May 1 at Onondaga Lake. SU claimed first place in the varsity four competition and the second varsity eight race. Massachusetts won the day's other two competitions, the varsity eight race and the novice eight race. By virtue of the Minutewomen's triumph in the varsity eight competition, Massachusetts won the Orange Plus Cup, which had resided in Syracuse for the last four years. It is first Cup win for the Minutewomen since the trophy began going to the winner of the Syracuse-Massachusetts-Villanova regatta in 2000. The Orangewomen began the day by battling Massachusetts and Villanova in the varsity four competition. Villanova grabbed an early lead off the starting line, but Syracuse moved up and outdueled the Wildcats in the first quarter of the race. At 500-mark the Orangewomen held the advantage by a length as boats headed into some open water. At the 1000-meter pole the Orangewomen led the Wildcats by five seconds, recording a time of 3:46 to Villanova's 3:51 at the halfway point. Massachusetts was third through the first half of the race (3:56) and SU?s varsity four ?B? rowed in the fourth position (4:09.2). In the third 500 meters Villanova made a move and cut into SU?s lead, but the Orangewomen responded and won the race by about a length. Syracuse finished the course with a time of 7:39.2. Villanova finished second (7:43.2), while Massachusetts placed third (7:54.9) and SU?s ?B? boat finished fourth (8:00.9). In the varsity eight race all three teams came off the starting line strong, but Massachusetts claimed the early advantage. The Orangewomen were averaging about 36 strokes per minute, but the Minutewomen still led by a length at the 1,000-meter pole. The Orangewomen made a move in the last half of the race, but couldn?t overtake Massachusetts, which won the competition in a time of 6:29.7. Syracuse crossed the finish line at 6:34.3, while Villanova placed third (6:41.1). Syracuse rebounded to win the final race in which it had an entry, defeating Massachusetts in the second varsity eight competition. The Orangewomen and Minutewomen fought for the lead in the first 500 meters, with SU gaining a one-half length edge just before the 1,000-meter mark. Massachusetts challenged the Orangewomen in the third 500 meters, but SU held them off and won the race by about half a length. The Orangewomen recorded a time of 6:54.4, while the Minutewomen completed the course in 7:00.5. ?The intensity and effort was there today,? Syracuse assistant coach Craig Milburn said. ?The varsity eight rowed a little scrambled at the start, but they fought hard and I feel good knowing what we have to correct as we prepare for this weekend.? Syracuse will compete at the Eastern Sprints in Camden N.J. on Saturday, May 8.

Varsity Four
1. Syracuse A - 7:39.2
2. Villanova - 7:43.2
3. Massachusetts - 7:54.9
4. Syracuse B - 8:00.9

Varsity Eight
1. Massachusetts - 6:29.7
2. Syracuse - 6:34.3
3. Villanova - 6:41.1

Second Varsity Eight
1. Syracuse - 6:54.4
2. Massachusetts - 7:00.5

Novice Eight
1. Massachusetts - 7:07
2. Villanova - 7:12.1
3. Massachusetts Ltw. - 7:29.7