The UMass Lowell varsity four turned in its best time of the year on the biggest stage.  The River Hawk varsity four finished 31^st in a field of 38 boats in the Women's Collegiate Fours, Saturday afternoon, at the Head of the Charles Regatta on the Charles River.
 
The varsity four rowed the five thousand meter course in a time of 21-minutes 18.08-seconds.  Bowdoin College won the event in a time of 19:14.11.  Grand Valley State University finished second in a time of 19:19.60, Clemson University grabbed third, 19:21.47.
 
The varsity four led by junior coxswain Rachel Paquette (Dracut, Mass.) included seniors Melinda Neale (Plaistow, N. H.) and Kim Haskins (Taunton, Mass.) and sophomores Jenna Bueno (Methuen, Mass.) and Rachel Piela (Amherst, Mass.)
 
“That was really, really solid,” said Coach Veronika Platzer.  “They looked, they rowed, they raced faster.”
 
The four carried a 500 meter pace of 2-minutes and three seconds through the race, two seconds better than their previous best time.
 
“”That is really outstanding,” said Platzer.  “They were facing the very best in the country and they continued to show dramatic improvement.” 
 
 UMass Lowell will take to the waters again next weekend at the Head of the Fish in Saratoga Springs, N. Y.