Minutewomen Rowing Set For Yankee Cup Saturday

March 26, 2010

AMHERST, Mass. - After a strong start to the 2010 season in a scrimmage against the Coast Guard Academy, UMass Rowing will travel to Kingston, R.I. to compete in the Yankee Cup. The Minutewomen are slated to race against New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut on Saturday morning. UMass is planning to enter boats in the first Varsity 8, second Varsity 8, Varsity 4, first Novice 8, second Novice 8 and Novice 4.

With heavy rains affecting the height of the Connecticut River, the Minutewomen have had to alter their training sessions until the river becomes regulated.

Scouting the Competition:
This weekend's race pits two of the Atlantic 10's strongest squads in UMass and Rhode Island. The two teams have won each conference championship since the A-10 picked up rowing in 1996; Massachusetts has won 13 conference titles while the Rams captured their first title in 2008. Rhode Island Head Coach Shelagh Donohoe, in her fourth season leading the Rams, was named the A-10 Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

Connecticut enters the 2010 season following a sixth place finish in last season's Big East Championships. The Huskies finished first in both the Varsity Four Petite Final and the Novice Eight Petite Final. This season's UConn team is comprised mostly of underclassmen who will look to take home the Yankee Cup points trophy for the first time since 2005.

Below is the projected UMass lineup for Saturday's race:

First Varsity Eight: Samantha Schnoerr (cox), Megan Rodgers, Samantha Smith, Amanda Doolin, Teresa O'Brien, Jessica Stern, Alexandra DiMatteo, Kelsey Schachter, Jennifer Coyne.

Second Varsity Eight:
Carly Payne (cox), Ana Tocco, Megan Donovan, Katelyn Allocco, Rachel Spielberg, Emily Grogan, Emily Hagan, Chelsea Wakeham, Elizabeth Euiler.

Fours: Molly Bogle (cox), Beth Paret, Meredith Kearney, Kathryn Kern, Emily Boucher.
Em Chiu (cox), Robin Snoey, Kristin Jones, Ellis Brewster, Isabella Donadio.