The University of Rochester Women's Rowing team kicked off their fall season by facing top Canadian University programs in Peterborough, Ontario at the Head of the Trent regatta. The women's Varsity 8 finished 5th (of 10 crews) in a time of 18:11, behind first place Queens University (17:22), Western Ontario, Ottawa and Brock University.

The Eight, with a strong first half, built a large lead on the crews behind them, finishing 35 seconds ahead of McGill University, with Ontario Institue of Technology, Laurentian University and Carleton University rounding out the field.

"We had a good first half, and held our position against Brock to start off the race, but exiting the narrow canal locks, the water got choppy and we gave away a lot of time" according to head coach Will Greene.

Competing for Rochester were Bowseat Captain Margaret Zupa, Kristiana LaChuisa, Alyssa Berkowitz, Jewell Case, Kate Kelleher, Courtney Stewart, Captain Katie Lantuh and Erin Partin (stroke).

After a 90 minute break, the 8 split up into two fours, and competed again over the 4,500 meter upstream course with fifteen crews.

"The women had a strong showing in the fours; our boats were consistent, seventh and ninth, with our B entry finishing ahead of all other B entries except Queens," said Greene.

Western Ontario (18:51) won the event over second place Queens A, with Rochester's A entry (Zupa, Stewart, Lantuh and Partin) 7th in 20:08. The B entry (Kelliher, LaChuisa, Berkowitz, Case and Julia Evans, cox) was 9th in 20:39, behind Guelph University. The team next competes in Geneva, NY at the Challenge on the Canal, Saturday, October 9.