May. 2, 2005

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Villanova's Lightweight Eight boat won its third race of the season, as the Wildcats took on Syracuse and Massachusetts on Friday night at Lake Onondaga in Syracuse. Due to the forecast of heavy rain on Saturday, the races were moved to Friday night.

In the Lightweight Eight race, the Wildcats finished with a time of 8:07.75 to finish more than seven seconds ahead of UMass, which crossed in 8:15.06. Villanova also competed in the Varsity Eight, Novice Eight and Varsity Four races. The Novice Eight boat registered a time of 7:49.16 to place second, trailing Syracuse by nine seconds. Villanova trailed the other two boats by half a length 600 meters into the 2000 meter race, but eventually moved past Massachusetts with 700 meters left. The Varsity Eight and Varsity Four boats each took third.

There was a headwind of 8-10 miles per hour at the beginning of the meet, with the wind decreasing throughout the competition. The water had a slight chop for the first 1000 meters and was flat for the second 1000 meters.

Varsity Eight

Syracuse - 6:57.93
Massachusetts - 7:01.82
Villanova - 7:21.49

Second Varsity Eight

Syracuse - 7:18.61
Massachusetts - 7:41.31

Lightweight Eight

Villanova - 8:07.75
Massachusetts - 8:15.06

Novice Eight

Syracuse - 7:40.09
Villanova - 7:49.16
Massachusetts - 7:52.16

Varsity Four

Syracuse "A" - 8:22.88
Massachusetts - 8:42.21
Villanova - 8:44.49
Syracuse "B" - 8:56.61