The Union Women's Varsity 4 will compete on Saturday, May 7 at the ECAC's at Regatta Point State Park in Worcester. They will start in lane two (no, not lane THREE), at 5:20 p.m. alongside Bowdoin, Clark, Franklin Pierce, Amherst and William Smith. The top three teams in both this heat and the following heat will compete in Sunday's grand final at 4:00 p.m.
Last year, the women's varsity 4 team from Union lost a race in the ECAC's by .3 seconds. That time was on the minds of the Dutchwomen last weekend, as they clinched an automatic ECAC bid with a second place finish at the New York State Collegiate Championships. Union came in at 7:57.97, while Skidmore was first at 7:56.42. The boat was led by senior coxswain Liz O'Connell (Brooklyn, NY/Packer Collegiate), senior stroke seat Laura Morris (Bryn Mawr, PA/Brooks School), senior three seat Carrie Dancy (Concord, NH/Concord), sophomore two seat Anavelle Riley (Mt. Vernon, ME/Marancook Community) and senior bow seat Laura Ashley Martin (Gloucester, VA/East Lyme). The women's varsity 4 boat won this week's Liberty League Women's Co-Boat of the Week.
“Liz mentally prepared her team for a long challenging day of racing and her rowers responded with the strength and persistence needed to advance through the preliminary and semifinal rounds to the grand final,” commented Union assistant coach Lindsey Gish. “In the final, both Union and Skidmore took early leads on the other four crews, and it was clear early on in the race that the fight for first would be between Union and Skidmore. Although it was close, Skidmore took a slight advantage and pulled out first by two seconds.”
Although the women could be down after losing out on first place by such a narrow margin, they were still proud of the performance that sends them to the ECAC's.
“It's impossible to be disappointed with a good race,” said Martin.
“Our last race in the grand final was strong, and Skidmore pushed us all the way to the end,” said O'Connell. “It is exciting to come out in the top two at the states, but we are definitely aware that we have to focus ahead for this weekend. The ECAC race will be a tougher race, and after our boat lost by .3 at this race last year, you know we are looking for a second chance to prove ourselves.”
For the four seniors competing Saturday, it is a great way to end a career.
“While I am sad that this is the culmination of four years of rowing for Union, I am both honored and excited to have qualified to race at the ECAC's,” said Morris.
Don't think that this group's favorite movie is “The Land That Time Forgot,” a flick from the '70's, because they have not forgotten that time back in 2004. The time has come as the ship sails off into the sunset for the Dutchwomen seniors. It is time for some unfinished business for the Union Women's Varsity 4.
The Liberty League also honored other Dutchwomen this week. For women's lacrosse, Molly Flanagan (Simsbury, CT/Loomis Chaffee) won her third Liberty League Performer of the Week this season, while Caitlin Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA/King Phillip Regional) won her first Liberty League Rookie of the Week award.
Softball was honored by the Liberty League as Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) was named the Performer of the Week for the second time this spring. In addition, Abby Arceneaux (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) received the Pitcher of the Week award and the Rookie of the Week was Catherine Kielb (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia). Arceneaux also received the ECAC Division III Upstate Co-Pitcher of the Week honor.
Flanagan scored five goals on seven shots in Union's regular season finale win at Oneonta. Flanagan scored two free position goals on two attempts. She also collected three ground balls and caused three turnovers. After Union fell behind 2-0, she scored three goals during a 10-0 run by the Dutchwomen. Cuozzo scored two goals on three shots, including the game-winning goal, and added two assists at Oneonta. She also collected three ground balls and caused two turnovers. The women's lacrosse team, winners of 10 straight, bring an 11-3 record into this weekend's Liberty League Championships at home. Top-seed Union hosts #4 Hamilton at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bailey Field, while the other semifinal features Skidmore and St. Lawrence. The winners meet for the title and the NCAA automatic playoff bid Sunday at 12 p.m.
Gawronski has an eight-game hitting streak after hitting safely in each of the four games last week. She was 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs in the first win vs. Rensselaer, and also had two hits in the second game win vs. Hamilton. On the week, Gawronski was 7 for 13 (.538) with four RBIs and five runs scored. She entered last week 13th nationally in RBIs and 33rd in hitting, and now has 39 RBIs and a .471 batting average. Arceneaux improved to 13-2 with a pair of victories last week. She allowed one earned run and struck out 25 in 13 innings. Arceneaux struck out a career-high 16 and allowed one earned and seven hits in a 3-2 victory over regionally-ranked Liberty League rival Rensselaer on Monday, then struck out nine with a three-hit, no-earned run triumph over Hamilton, 10-1. Kielb had a walk-off homer in one of the two games last week. Tuesday, she hit a three-run HR that provided the eight-run + margin in a 10-1 win over Hamilton. She had three RBIs in game one vs. Rensselaer, and had two hits in each of the four games. Kielb was 8 for 13 (.615) with nine RBIs, four runs scored and the homer in the four-game week. On the season, Kielb is hitting .438.
In other Union sports action this week, baseball is scheduled to play at Hamilton Tuesday and at Clarkson Friday then host Hartwick Saturday and Utica Sunday. A doubleheader to make up vs. Rochester also figures into the mix, so check the front web page for the latest schedule updates. Men's and women's track & field competes at the New York State Championships Friday and Saturday at the University of Rochester.