SHREWSBURY, Mass. (April 23, 2016) – In its final race before New England Rowing Championships, the Franklin Pierce University women's rowing team competed at the Northeast-10 Challenge on Lake Quinsigamond. The Ravens continued to take critical steps in their race development, as they move into the championship portion of their schedule.

The freshmen/novice fours began the day of racing with an opportunity to avenge a loss to Merrimack just a few short weeks ago in New Jersey. Freshman coxswain Hannah Eldridge (Whitinsville, Mass.), along with Kyra Fairley (Kingston, N.Y.), Rebecca Davies (Township of Washington, N.J.), Julia Canova (Avon, Conn.) and Onyeris Lopez-Maldonado (Hyde Park, Mass.) went wire-to-wire, completing the course in 7:58.2. Assumption College finished second (8:02.95) and Merrimack (8:09.15), who defeated the Ravens by 27 seconds at the Knecht Cup, took third.

The frosh four was composed and in control, holding off a strong challenge from Assumption at the midway point of the race, when the Greyhounds attempted to push through by picking up their stroke rate to 37 and picking up seats. Refusing to give up their lead, the Ravens responded in-turn with a move of their own, which opened up water between the two boats and created a lead they would preserve all the way across the finish lane.

"I was particularly impressed with the way the freshmen maintained their poise during their race," said head coach David DeIuliis. "It was a close race for the first 1000 meters and Assumption made a very strong push, but they executed their plan and took home the win."

Following up the freshmen were the Varsity Fours, where the Ravens fielded two boats against Merrimack and Assumption.

The First Varsity boat, led by sophomore coxswain Grace Walker (Greenfield, Mass.), along with junior Nicole Rode (Thomaston, Conn.), senior Kasie Tucker (Bow, N.H.), freshman Marykate Cullinane (Medford, Mass.) and junior Kirsten Salois (Pelham, N.H.), took second place (7:59.82), behind Merrimack (7:37.72), and finished almost 18 seconds ahead of third place Assumption (8:17.35).

"The varsity boat had a strong race," said DeIuliis. "Merrimack is a tough challenge and it was a great opportunity to go up against them. We rowed a very solid race and I'm pretty happy with the results."

The Second Varsity had a much tougher day on the water, completing the course in 8:34.55, good for fourth place and roughly 17 seconds behind the Greyhounds. Freshman Devin Neary (North Kingston, R.I.) made her coxing debut in the second varsity four, along with senior Megan DeFelice (Chester, N.H.), freshman Mackenzie Hitch (Oregon, Ohio), freshman Shelby Telega (South Deerfield, Mass.) and sophomore Danielle Clarke (Fairfield, Conn.).

At the conclusion of racing, the points were tallied and Merrimack retained the NE-10 Challenge Trophy, with their win in the varsity four, combined with their win the varsity eight last weekend. The Ravens finished second in both events over the two weekends and second overall in the standings.

Next weekend the Ravens return to Lake Quinsigamond for the New England Rowing Championships.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce rowing apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).