Nationally-Ranked Saints Sweep All Events to Kick off 2010 Spring Season Against RIT

Mar. 27: The St. Lawrence University women's crew team, ranked 6th in country, kicked off its 2010 spring season by sweeping all three events Saturday, against RIT in Rochester, NY.

It looks like the Saints' relentless effort and drive throughout the winter months is paying off. The Scarlet and Brown's First Varsity Eight dominated the course Saturday, defeating RIT by over thirty seconds. St. Lawrence took a commanding lead early, walking through Rochester to eventually cross the finish line first with about four lengths of open water. The Saints finished with the fastest women's time of the day (8:07.3), while RIT followed in second place (8:49.3). Senior Amelia Lalley stroked St. Lawrence's top eight, followed by first-year Jesse Burdett at seven seat, senior Amelia Bell at six seat, first-year Maggie Fellows at five seat, junior All-American Lizzy Stokes-Cawley at four seat, senior Eloise Lachance at three seat, sophomore Kathleen Slocum at two seat, and senior Jane Connolly at bow. The 1V was coxed by junior Lauren Reed.

St. Lawrence's Second Varsity A Eight also had a strong performance, handily defeating RIT by almost two minutes. The Saints walked through RIT in the first ten strokes of the race, crossing the finish line with a time of 8:34.7, which put them ahead of RIT's top eight overall. Senior Jackie Costas sat stroke seat, while senior Erin Hussey sat seven seat, sophomore Jeannine Condon sat six seat, senior Brianna Kehl sat five season, sophomore Brianna Tidd sat four seat, first-year Britton Webber sat three seat, first-year Kaitlyn Summers sat two seat, and senior Katie Roy sat bow. First-year Rachel Gartland coxed the 2V. The Saints B boat earned second place in the same event, finishing about thirty seconds behind the A boat and over a minute and a half in front of RIT's Second Eight. The B boat finished with a time of 9:01.8, while RIT took third with a time of 10:41.6. First-year Madeline Fones stroked the B boat, while senior Corrie Mersereau sat seven seat, sophomore Liz Weber sat six seat, first-year Sally Dankner sat five seat, first-year Molly Simpson sat four seat, junior Maggie Wiener sat three seat, junior Catie LePage sat two seat, and sophomore Amanda Brewer sat bow. Junior Alyssa Halton coxed the Saints B 2V.

The St. Lawrence rookies also fared well in the women's novice four event, defeating RIT by almost a minute. The Saints four, stroked by McCaffery, while Dankner sat three seat, first-year Maria Anselmi sat two seat, and first-year Alicia Flint sat bow, finished with a time of 10:36.6. RIT's four rounded out the event with a time of 11:42.0. First-year Rachel Gartland coxed the Saints four.

St. Lawrence has a weekend off before they compete against rival Ithaca College, Saturday, April 10th in Ithaca, NY.