The Canisius rowing program returned to action for its spring schedule on Saturday, as the squad compete at the 35th annual Murphy Cup hosted by Temple in Philadelphia, Pa.

"Temple put on a really nice regatta, and the day couldn't have been more conducive to racing,“ head coach Erin Neppel said. “It was an important first race for this Griffs team. I had asked only that they put in the effort that would give me something to start with. I asked them to put forth enough to know exactly where we are right now, and to disregard all of the external factors, and race the hell out of course, which all three crews did."

The varsity eight consisting of Alexandra Heinz, Shannon Pritzker, Tara Federow, Madeline Kurka, Kathryn Hobika, Patricia Beaulieu, Brooke Stanley, Sydney Bichsel and Kaitlyn Taylor finished the course with a time of 7:36.09. While the Griffs didn't place in the event, they did best other Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe, Robert Morris, who clocked in with a time of 7:14.22.

In the second varsity eight, the team of Kira Voyer, Mackenzie App, Michelle Turner, Bridget Lillis, Emma Vicaretti, Jessica Fabian, Molly Murphy, Audrey Rieman and Grace Horner finished the course with a time of 7:36.09.

Meanwhile in the varsity four, Alexandria Holt, Chanel Davis, Melissa Frank, Erin Grim and Gianna Ortolani finished the race with a time of 8:06.29. Likewise, the Griffs were the fastest MAAC school, clocking in ahead of the Colonials who finished the course with a time of 8:15.24.

"While we are, of course, unsatisfied with the results, we are happy with the racing, which was hard, and inspired,” Neppel said. “We'll head back to Buffalo and get down to business on Monday, when we should be back on the water.”

The Blue and Gold now have nearly two weeks to prepare for the Knecht Cup, held in West Windsor Township, N.J. Race time to be announced.