March 31, 2012

Lineups

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Claiming its fourth Kittell Cup victory in the last five years, the Boston University women's rowing team's varsity eight boat defeated Syracuse by 1.6 seconds before falling to No. 16 Cornell in the second race Saturday morning on Lake Onondaga.

The win over the Orange gives the Terriers their second cup victory of the season after they defeated Northeastern last weekend for the Council Cup. It also marks the first time that BU will hold two cups in one season since 2008, when the team had possession of the Kittell Cup and Playfair Cup (Navy, George Washington).

Coxed by senior Kayla Rivers and stroked by classmate Cheryl Copson, the V8 boat stayed relatively even with Syracuse until breaking away toward the end for a one-length victory at 6:45.8.

The time marks a vast improvement from two weeks ago, when the Terriers finished fifth at the Clemson Regatta with a time of 7:01.30. Receiving votes in the latest CRCA/USRowing Poll, the Orange took third in that event at 6:51.57.

After beating Syracuse, BU advanced to face the winner of Cornell and Rutgers. The Big Red was able to save its energy with a comfortable 15-second win over the Scarlet Knights. Cornell took advantage in the second race by beating the Terriers with a nine-second margin at 6:46.2.

The Terriers lost to Syracuse in the second varsity eight, third varsity eight and varsity four races but rebounded by defeating Rutgers in all three events later in the day.

BU will next travel to No. 9 Yale to face the Bulldogs and Dartmouth on Saturday, April 7.

Varsity Eight
Heat 1: BU (6:45.8), Syracuse (6:47.4) Note: Terriers claim Kittell Cup
Heat 2: #16 Cornell (6:55.7), Rutgers (7:10.2)
Consolation: Syracuse (6:56.4), Rutgers (7:10.2)
Final: #16 Cornell (6:46.2), BU (6:55.5)

Second Varsity Eight
Heat 1: Syracuse (7:08.2), BU (7:14.9)
Heat 2: Cornell (7.00.1), Rutgers (7:31.0)
Consolation: BU (7:18.3), Rutgers (7:33.2)
Final: Cornell (6:57.1), Syracuse (7:09.8)

Varsity Four
Heat 1: Syracuse (7:58.9), BU (8:05.9)
Heat 2: Cornell A (7:36.5), Cornell B (7:46.4), Rutgers (8:23.1)
Consolation: Cornell B (7:55.6), BU (8:08.0), Rutgers (8:26.9)
Final: Cornell A (7:48.4), Syracuse (8:06.4)

Third Varsity Eight
Heat 1: Syracuse (7:23.0), BU (7:35.0)
Heat 2: Cornell A (6:55.8), Cornell B (7:10.0), Rutgers (7:25.3)
Consolation: Cornell B (7:25.4), BU (7:35.4), Rutgers (7:55.8)
Final: Cornell A (7:14.7), Syracuse (7:21.9)