PHILADELPHIA -- Led by a first place finish by the Novice Fours crew, the University of Delaware women’s rowing squad placed third in the team standings at the Colonial Athletic Association/Kerr Cup Championships Saturday on the Schuylkill River.

Head coach Laura Slice’s squad also picked up a second place finish in the Novice Eights race, third place showings in both the Varsity Eights and Second Varsity Eights competitions, and a fifth place finish in the Varsity Fours race and finished just three points out of second place.

George Mason won the team title with 47 points with Drexel second with 32 points. Delaware was third with 29 points followed by Old Dominion (13), Virginia Commonwealth (12), William & Mary (7), and UNC Wilmington (3). The event is not an official CAA championship as some teams compete on the club team level. Delaware won unofficial CAA championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006 and have never finished lower than third.

“It was a great day of racing, especially for such a young team like ours,” said Slice. “We improved so much from last weekend. We worked hard all week to make some changes and it really showed in the Varsity Eights and Second Varsity Eights teams. We are excited for the Novice Fours team and its conference title.”

The Novice Fours team took first place and became the 13th Blue Hen crew to capture a CAA title in seven years of competition. The team of coxswain Jen Popkin, Rachel Waylett, Lindsay Byrne, Valerie Glace, and Tara Bree rowed to a time of 8:17.23 to beat runner-up Drexel by over five seconds.

The Novice Eights team of coxswain Marra Green, Tracy Iudica, Leanna Colubriale, Sara Leviton, Steph Lynch, Katelyn Huber, Corey Kalota, Kaitlin Roehrer, and Sarah Baillie took second place with a time of 7:13.34, finishing behind winner George Mason by just 4.31 seconds.

The Delaware Second Varsity Eights crew placed third with the team of coxswain Avery Griffin, Katie Gooding, Clare Wardwell, Arielle Katz, Taima McCartney, Laura Stiffler, Maureen Reardon, Nicolette Lotrionte, and Brittany Hayes racing to a time of 7:33.39. George Mason won the race in 7:08.43 with Drexel second.

The Blue Hen Varsity Eights team also placed third as the group of coxswain Callie Tegan, Mary Grace Maggiano, Darra Finnerty, Elizabeth Carey, Liz Cretekos, Regine Adrien, Lana Rivers, Meredith Rubin, and Lisa Medina recorded a time of 7:24.58. George Mason won the race in a time of 7:05.42 while Drexel was second with a clocking of 7:08.45.

The Varsity Fours crew of coxswain Amanda Burton, Alexx Delorme, Lily Chavarriaga, Erin Venturato, and Grace Bennett placed fifth overall with a time of 8:35.72, finishing behind winner Old Dominion (7:57.72), Robert Morris, George Mason, and William & Mary.

The Blue Hens will take part in the ECAC Metro Championships on May 4 on the Cooper River in Camden, NJ.

AGATE:

Final Team Standings: 1. George Mason - 47; 2. Drexel - 32; 3. Delaware - 29; 4. Old Dominion - 13; 5. Virginia Commonwealth - 12; 6. William & Mary - 7; 7. UNC Wilmington - 3.

Novice Fours: 1. Delaware (Jen Popkin, Rachel Waylett, Lindsay Byrne, Erin Venturato, Tara Bree), 8:17.23; 2. Drexel - 8:22.32; 3. Old Dominion - 8:27.23; 5. VCU - 8:45.42.

Novice Eights: 1. George Mason - 7:09.03; 2. Delaware - 7:13.34 (Marra Green, Tracy Iudica, Leanna Colubriale, Sara Leviton, Steph Lynch, Katelyn Huber, Corey Kalota, Kaitlin Roehrer, Sarah Baillie), 7:13.34; 3. Drexel - 7:30.15; 4. William & Mary - 8:03.03; 5. Old Dominion - 8:38.62.

Varsity Fours: 1. Old Dominion - 7:57.72; 2. Robert Morris - 8:00.31; 3. George Mason - 8:08.63; 4. William & Mary - 8:23.91; 5. Delaware (Amanda Burton, Alexx Delorme, Lily Chavarriaga, Valerie Glace, Grace Bennett), 8:35.72; 6. UNC Wilmington - 8:44.72.

Second Varsity Eights: 1. George Mason - 7:08.43; 2. Drexel - 7:24.33; 3. Delaware (Avery Griffin, Katie Gooding, Clare Wardwell, Arielle Katz, Taima McCartney, Laura Stiffler, Maureen Reardon, Nicolette Lotrionte, Brittany Hayes) - 7:33.39; 4. Robert Morris - 7:39.36.

Varsity Eights: 1. George Mason - 7:05.42; 2. Drexel - 7:08.45; 3. Delaware (Callie Tegan, Mary Grace Maggiano, Darra Finnerty, Elizabeth Carey, Liz Cretekos, Regine Adrien, Lana Rivers, Meredith Rubin, Lisa Medina), 7:24.58; 4. Robert Morris - 7:41.70; 5. VCU - 7:50.45; 6. Old Dominion - 7:50.99.