The St. Lawrence University women's rowing team opened its 2013-14 season on Saturday at the Bridge-to-Bridge Regatta in Rome, NY. The Saints competed in three events on the 6.6 km course against Colgate and Hamilton, including a win in the women's fours.

With it being so early in the season, St. Lawrence split its veterans to row alongside newcomers in the opening event, allowing the rookies to gain valuable experience.

"I was very pleased with the way we rowed this weekend," said St. Lawrence Director of Rowing Nick Hughes. "Our goal, this early in the season, is to have as many competitive boats as possible. By splitting our returners with our rookies, it gives stability to our line-up and helps our younger rowers."

The Saints' "A" varsity 8+ finished second behind Colgate with a time of 27:53.9, but nearly :17 seconds ahead of Hamilton's top boat. The team's "B" boat was fourth in the eights race with a time of 28:46.4. The "A" boat was comprised of Gabby Schreffler, Alexis Bruno, Grace Conrad, Taylor Lincoln, Mikayla Thomas, Daniela Stokes, Heidi Weiss, Jenette Kloss and coxswain Amy Yao. The "B" boat included Monica Bedford, Sarah Evarts, Kailash Heron, Ellie Jones, Karen Blakelock, Abbie McIvor, Jen Longwell, Hannah Durant and coxswain Yuki McQueeney.

St. Lawrence's "B" team won the women's fours ahead of Hamilton with a time of 31:47.12. Yao was the coxswain in the winning boat, along with Weiss, Stokes, McIvor, and Kloss. The "A" boat finished third and included Schreffler, Longwell, Durant, Blakelock and McQueenie.

The Saints' novice 8+ finished second to Hamilton in its race with a time of 33:51.8. The group of newcomers representing St. Lawrence for the first time included Laura Greshin, Sam Holmes, Lizzy Miller, Alli Chertack, Grace Bodkin, Jess Williams, Emma Morgan and coxswain Sarah Heatherton.

St. Lawrence will compete in next weekend's Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA on Sunday, October 20.