Syracuse Goes for Fifth Straight Orange Plus Cup

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 19^th-ranked Syracuse women’s rowing team aims to win its fifth straight Orange Plus Cup when it hosts Villanova and No. 18 Massachusetts at Onondaga Lake on Saturday, May 1.

Syracuse has claimed the trophy in every season since 2000, when the Orange Plus Cup began going to the winner of the Syracuse-Massachusetts-Villanova Race. Prior to 2000, the Cup was presented to the winner of the Syracuse-Rutgers competition. The Orangewomen have won the trophy a total seven times since 1989.

Syracuse is coming off a third place at the BIG EAST Rowing Challenge on Sunday, April 25. All four of SU’s boats reached the grand finals and its varsity eight and varsity four “B” boats placed second in their respective races. The Orangewomen are 4-4 this season, including victories against Pennsylvania and Northeastern on April 10 to retain the Orange Challenge Cup.

Villanova placed seventh in the team standings at the conference regatta. The Wildcats’ only entry to reach a grand final at the event was their varsity eight, which finished sixth with a time of 7:04.29. The Wildcats top performance at the BIG EAST Rowing Challenge was by its novice eight, which won the petite final.

Massachusetts earned its ninth consecutive Atlantic 10 rowing championship on Saturday, April 24. The Minutewomen dominated the competition, winning the varsity eight, varsity four, and quad grand finals. In addition to the team championship, Massachusetts mentor, Jim Dietz, was selected as the conference’s coach of the year for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.

Massachusetts is 7-1 this spring with its only loss coming against Brown.

Racing is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning with the varsity four “A” competition.

Schedule of Events

7:30 a.m. – Coaches/Coxswains Meeting

8:00 a.m. – Varsity Four “A”

8:15 a.m. – Varsity Eight

8:30 a.m. – JV Eight

8:45 a.m. – Novice Eight

Syracuse Lineups

Varsity Eight

C-Marisa Begley

8-Kelly McGrorey