BOSTON The 15th-ranked Virginia rowing team finished competition on the Charles River Saturday with victories in three out of four races, including a come-from-behind win over No. 11 USC and No. 16 Harvard in the Varsity Eight.

“All of our crews rowed with a lot of heart today in challenging conditions," Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said. "The Varsity Eight was one of the most amazing races I've seen in awhile, to come back from over a length down to Harvard and Southern Cal to win."

The Varsity Eight crew of coxswain Sidney Thorsten, Jennifer Cromwell, Amanda Chase, Lauren Hutchins, Augusta Stratos, Desiree Burns, Bridget Fowler, Lauren Shook and Victoria Burke trailed Harvard and USC by a boat length at the 750-mark of the race, before coming through to win by a nearly one-second margin. Virginia’s winning time was 7:08.4, compared with USC (7:09.2) and Harvard (7:12.9).

The Second Varsity Eight, meanwhile, also came up with a victory. The Cavaliers’ time of 7:16.1 was followed by USC (7:22.9) and Harvard (7:31.1).

Virginia’s novices also won with a time of 7:40.2, defeating Harvard’s time of 8:02.7.

In the first event of the day, UVa swept races against Gonzaga and Northeastern. Virginia’s Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight, Varsity Four and Novice Eight all earned victories in the three-team competition.

Virginia’s Varsity Eight started the day off with a winning time of 6:58.3, followed by host Northeastern (7:06.9) and Gonzaga (7:21.6).

In the next race, the Second Varsity Eight, UVa won with a time of 7:15.9. Northeastern finished second (7:40.0), followed by Gonzaga (7:40.6).

Virginia’s Varsity Four won with a time of 8:36.8, while the Novice Eight made it a clean sweep with a first-place time of 7:50.5.

Looking ahead, Virginia will have two weekends off following Saturday’s competition to prepare for South/Central Regionals. The Regionals will be held in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on May 16-17.

No. 15 Virginia vs. Gonzaga and Northeastern
April 25, 2009 | Boston, Mass.
Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia 6:58.3; 2. Northeastern 7:06.9; 3. Gonzaga 7:21.6
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Sidney Thorsten, Jennifer Cromwell, Amanda Chase, Lauren Hutchins, Augusta Stratos, Desiree Burns, Bridget Fowler, Lauren Shook, Victoria Burke)
Second Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia 7:15.9; 2. Northeastern 7:40.0; 3. Gonzaga 7:40.6
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Cristine Candland, Claudia Blandford, Marie Long, Cara Linnenkohl, Martha Kuzzy, Helen Tompkins, Christine Roper, Nora Phillips, Susie Chalker)
Varsity Four: 1. Virginia A’ 8:36.8; 2. Virginia B’ 8:46.1; 3. Gonzaga 9:03.02; 4. Northeastern 9:24.0
(UVa A’ lineup: Coxswain Sarah Pichardo, Ruth Retzinger, Lieve Pitts, Pamela Baylor, Shalane Carlson)
(UVa B’ lineup: Coxswain Taylor Gilmore, Erin Hawes, Summers Nelson, Caroline Sweeny, Megan Hooley)
Novice Eight: 1. Virginia 7:50.5; 2. Gonzaga 8:05.4; 3. Northeastern 8:29.4
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Chloe Delaney, MacKenzie Leahy, Carolyn Glandorf, Morgan Joseph, Hannah Silver, Keziah Beall, Ana Tucker, Chelsea Simpson, Sarah Borchelt)

No. 15 Virginia vs. No. 11 USC and No. 16 Harvard
April 25, 2009 | Boston, Mass.
Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia 7:08.4; 2. USC 7:09.2; 3. Harvard 7:12.9
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Sidney Thorsten, Jennifer Cromwell, Amanda Chase, Lauren Hutchins, Augusta Stratos, Desiree Burns, Bridget Fowler, Lauren Shook, Victoria Burke)
Second Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia 7:16.1; 2. USC 7:22.9; 3. Harvard 7:31.1
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Cristine Candland, Claudia Blandford, Marie Long, Cara Linnenkohl, Martha Kuzzy, Helen Tompkins, Christine Roper, Nora Phillips, Susie Chalker)
Varsity Four: 1. USC 8:11.8; 2. Harvard 8:18.3; 3. Virginia 8:19.1
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Sarah Pichardo, Ruth Retzinger, Lieve Pitts, Pamela Baylor, Shalane Carlson)
Novice Eight: 1. Virginia 7:40.4; 2. Harvard 8:02.7
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Chloe Delaney, MacKenzie Leahy, Carolyn Glandorf, Morgan Joseph, Hannah Silver, Keziah Beall, Ana Tucker, Chelsea Simpson, Sarah Borchelt)
Open Four: 1. Harvard B’ 8:27.90; 2. Virginia B’ 8:29.20; 3. Boston University B’ 9:07.00
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Taylor Gilmore, Erin Hawes, Summers Nelson, Caroline Sweeny, Megan Hooley)
Open Four: 1. Virginia C’ 8:33.90; 2. Harvard C’ 8:52.90; 3. Harvard D’ 9:19.30
(UVa lineup: Coxswain Laura Hendrie, Hannah Jenkins, Lauren Heimburg, Marelle Myers, Mariana Lima)