The Penn women's crew team hopes that it can repeat its performance from last week's Head of the Charles Regatta -- with one exception -- when it races at home at the Head of the Schuylkill on Saturday.
On Boston's Charles River, the Quakers' varsity four 'A' squad finished an amazing second behind only the German national team and ahead of the United States national team, but received a one-minute penalty because an oar hit Cornell's boat. With the penalty, Penn officially placed 17th.
Penn's varsity eight will compete this weekend, in a race that will include defending champion Syracuse. The Orangemen's varsity eight finished 11th at the Head of the Charles -- a race that the Quakers did not qualify for.
"It's important to everyone to win at home," Penn coach Barb Kirch said.
Because Syracuse won the race last year, the Orangemen will start first, an advantage because they will have no turbulence in the water and will be able to choose their line. While the Quakers, who start second, only need to beat Syracuse's time, their goal is to pass the Orangemen's boat.
"That'll be our challenge," Kirch said. "For us to get around them the way we got around Cornell last week, but without the penalty."
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