Princeton University
The Eisenberg Cup: Yale and Ohio State
Top-Ranked Open Women Knock Off Ivy Champ To Stay Perfect On Season
April 16, 2011 | Women's Rowing - Open
The top-ranked Princeton open women ran its regular season win streak to 22 and retained the Eisenberg Cup with a hard-fought victory over both No. 10 Ohio State and No. 11 Yale Saturday morning on the Housatonic River at Yale.
Princeton, which hasn't lost a regular season race since its 2009 clash with Yale on the Housatonic, won all three varsity eight races, including the first varsity competition in 6:28.1. Yale, which edged Princeton in the 2010 EAWRC final, placed second in 6:31.0, while the Buckeyes, in their first road regatta of the season, finished third in 6:42.5.
"We drew level early in a staggererd field, but we didn't really have a full sense of where we stood until around the 1200 mark," said head coach Lori Dauphiny, who improved her career record to 154-18 with the pair of wins. "Even then the race was close enough. The Princeton crews handled it well. We stayed strong and handled the course, conditions and staggered start well. I thought it was a good race. I thought Yale was really impressive, and both Yale and Ohio State were great competitors."
Princeton now moves to 8-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Ivy League. It has been ranked No. 1 since the second poll of the season, but it is well aware that a top national ranking is less important in the middle of the season as it is in the postseason.
"Yale gave us a great race," Dauphiny said. "It's always tricky when you are not on your home course. It was a really nice team effort. I am happy with the result, but I do not discount Yale at all. I was truly impressed by them, and I think they will be strong contenders at Sprints. As pleased as I am with this race, I know they'll be there. But I am happy with the way all of our boats are progressing this season as well."
While the Tigers' pursuit of an EAWRC/Ivy League title rests in the strong hands of its 1V boat, the NCAA championship dreams will depend on their top three. The second varsity eight matched the 1V by moving to 8-0 on the season with a three-second victory over Yale. Princeton won in 6:45.1, while Yale took second in 6:48.1. Ohio State was just off the pace, taking third in 6:49.0.
"Our 2V handled the conditions really well the first half of the race," Dauphiny said. "The second half was a little tougher, but we were able to get it done."
The Buckeyes were the strongest among the 4s, taking both the 'A' and 'B' competition. The Princeton 4A, which joins the 1V and 2V in the NCAA championship competition, placed third in its race in 7:39.7. Ohio State won in 7:26.2, while Yale took second in 7:28.8. In the 4B, Ohio State won in 7:48.8, while Princeton finished in 8:19.3.
Princeton did add a third victory in the 3V8 with a winning time of 7:07.3. Yale took second in 7:13.1, while Ohio State finished third in 7:22.0.
Princeton now owns a 26-11 edge in the all-time series with Yale, though recent history has been far more even. Since 2006, both Princeton and Yale won won three Eisenberg Cups apiece. The two programs have also combined for six of the last seven Ivy League championships, with Yale holding a 4-2 edge in that series. The Bulldogs have won each of the last two, including its less-than-one-second win over Princeton last season.
Princeton will conclude its four-week road trip on April 23 when it competes for the Class of 1984 Plaque against both Dartmouth and Penn. The competition will be held on the Connecticut River in New Hampshire. Princeton topped second-place Dartmouth by more than 14 seconds in the 2010 competition.
Varsity 8
Princeton 6:28.1
Yale 6:31.0
Ohio State 6:42.5
2nd Varsity 8
Princeton 6:45.1
Yale 6:48.1
Ohio State 6:49.0
Varsity Four
Ohio State 7:26.2
Yale 7:28.8
Princeton 7:39.7
3V8
Princeton 7:07.3
Yale 7:13.1
Ohio State 7:22.0
Varsity Four B
Ohio State 7:48.8
Princeton 8:19.3