The UMass Lowell varsity four rowing team, turned in another solid performance, finishing 14^th in a field of 37 collegiate boats representing all divisions in the Head of the Fish, Saturday afternoon, on Fish Creek at Saratoga Lake, Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
 
The varsity four traveled the three-thousand 350-meter course in a time of 15-minutes and 2.87-seconds.  Williams College won the Women's Collegiate Four event in a time of 13:50.46.  Colgate finished second covering the course in a time of 14:04.74.  The University of Massachusetts was third, 14:05.39.
 
The varsity four led by junior coxswain Rachel Paquette (Dracut, Mass.) included senior Melinda Neale (Plaistow, N. H.,) sophomore Jenna Bueno (Methuen, Mass.,) senior Kim Haskins (Taunton, Mass.) and sophomore and Rachel Piela (Amherst, Mass.)
 
“They looked really good,” said Coach Veronika Platzer.  “Finishing in the top half against a tough field was terrific.  They looked dynamic, they really attacked the course.”
 
The varsity four passed several boats and “nobody passed them,” said Platzer.  “they were really pleased, they were on top of the moon.”
 
The UMass Lowell women's pairs, sophomore Erinn McLaughlin (Lowell, Mass.) and junior Megan McLaughlin (Haverhill, Mass.,) turned in a strong performance finishing fifth in a field of six less that two second behind the fourth place finisher; New York Maritime.  The pair row the course in a time of 16-minutes and 7.08-seconds.
 
The McLaughlins impressed the coach with a strong stroke rate.  “Their finishing stroke rate was 34 or 35,” said Platzer.  “They showed confidence by laying down the rubber.  You have to be pretty skilled to do that.  They are the 'Athletes of the Week' for us, they really charged down the course.”
 
The Head of the Fish was the final event for the fall season and Platzer felt it put an exclamation point on the autumn competition.  “(The varsity four) progressed every week,” said Platzer.  “Every time they raced they got faster.  And the pair is the icing on the cake.” 
 
The River Hawks are not yet ready to take the boats out of the water just yet.  The Third Annual 20K Intrasquad Smackdown, a fun event, takes place Saturday November 3rd.