NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware women’s rowing head coach Laura Slice has announced the addition of four recruits who will attend the University and compete for the Blue Hens during the upcoming 2007-08 season.

The group includes Darra Finnerty of Upper Darby, PA, Alexis Martin of Pittsburgh, PA, Allie Pugh of Erdenheim, PA, and Laura Stiffler of Concord, MA. The four will join fellow Meredith Rubin, who signed with Delaware back in December.

“This group of women has great potential,” said Slice, who has led the Blue Hens to two Colonial Athletic Association team titles during her four years at the helm of the squad and a second place finish in 2007. “I am really looking forward to having them join our squad.”

Finnerty is a 5-7 native of Upper Darby, PA and a graduate of Archbishop Prendergast High School where she was a four-year standout for the rowing team. She has the ability to row from both the port and starboard side and was a competitor at the 2007 Scholastic Nationals.

Martin is a 5-9 native of Pittsburgh, PA and a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School. She rowed for four years at Mt. Lebanon and was a three-year letterwinner and two-year team captain. She led her team’s Varsity Eights crew to a fifth place finish at the 2007 Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships and was a competitor at the 2007 Scholastic Nationals.

Pugh is a 5-7 native of Erdenheim, PA and a graduate of Mt. St. Joseph Academy. She rowed for two years at Mt. St. Joseph and was a member of the Second Varsity Eights crew that posted a fourth overall finish at the 2007 Scholastic Nationals. She was a multi-sport standout in high school and earned her team’s Coaches Award in swimming.

Stiffler is a 5-7 native of Concord, MA and a graduate of Concord Carlisle High School. She rowed for three years for the Community Rowing Inc. club team and led the squad’s Second Varsity Eights boat to a second place finish at the 2006 North East Regionals.