Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Open Women Make Road Debut, Face Yale In Top-10 Showdown For Eisenberg Cup
April 17, 2015 | Women's Rowing - Open
LIVE VIDEO l NATIONAL POLL l EISENBERG CUP HISTORY
The Princeton open women will continue its daunting schedule, though it will do so this weekend away from Lake Carnegie. After three straight home races to start the season, the Tigers will test themselves on the Housatonic River when they compete with ninth-ranked Yale for the Eisenberg Cup.
Princeton holds a 28-11 advantage in a series that dates back to 1975, but both teams have had winning streaks over the last decade. Yale won three straight races, including two on the Housatonic, from 2007-2009, while Princeton has won the last five.
Last year's race on Lake Carnegie was a wild one, with Yale staging a comeback before Princeton ultimately held on for a 2.6-second victory. The Bulldogs are undefeated this season, including wins last weekend over both Dartmouth and Boston University. Princeton's only two losses this year are to teams currently ranked in the Top 4 of the latest USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division I national poll, Brown (No. 3) and Virginia (No. 4).
While the opponent is a challenging one, junior Erin Reelick noted that getting its first competition off Lake Carnegie will be another test for the Tigers.
“I am quite excited to move off of Carnegie this weekend,” she said. “We have been super lucky to be home the first couple of weekends but racing on different water brings a new sort of challenge. I know that racing on the Housatonic is always a challenge with the current and wind, but I think we are ready for it.”
Ironically, this will also be Yale's first home competition of the season. The regatta will begin at 8 am with a V4B matchup, and will continue every 20 minutes, including the Eisenberg Cup showdown at 8:40 am. The races are scheduled to be shown on the Ivy League Digital Network, as will the heavyweight men's race with Harvard.
For Princeton, it is also another chance to get faster on its way to the Ivy Championships.
“Every race we have learned something, whether that is about the boat or us as individuals,” Reelick said. “All of our past races have helped us focus in on changes we need to make, or simply highlight the speed we want to gain.”
The process had to be quickened because of the loss of early water time, but Reelick has been pleased by the growth, though not satisfied yet. With Ivies about a month away, she knows there is still plenty to accomplish.
"I have felt we have become more internal as a boat in order to find out speed," said the three-year V8 starter. "Spending more time on the water has definitely helped everyone gel together and find a similar rhythm, but we are always looking to improve. Throughout the team there seems to be a solid mentality and sense of urgency, so I think that if we can just continue to come together we will be able to find some serious speed."