CHESTERTOWN, Md. - The Catholic University women's rowing team placed second in the second varsity eight petite final at the Washington College Invitational Saturday while the varsity four finished third.

"There were no novice events at this regatta so we raced in categories with boats who have at least a year and a half or more of racing experience versus our six months," said head coach Katie O'Driscoll. "I was really excited to see them rise to the challenge!"

The second varsity eight, coxed by freshman Anna Paviglianiti and stroked by freshman Meg Higgins, finished third in their heat with a time of 6:36.14.

The C team from 8th-ranked Wellesley finished first with a time of 6:30.06 while defending Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) champion Washington College was second in 6:31.74. The C team from Division I St. Joseph's was fourth with a time of 6:39.00.

Paviglianiti has coxed Catholic in all three races this year while freshman Emily Chase had stroked the previous two.

In the petite final, the Cardinals finished second behind St. Joseph's C in a time of 6:09.69. Fellow MARC rival St. Mary's Maryland was third with a time of 6:28.97.

Competing for the first time, Catholic's varsity four finished third with a time of 7:21.04 behind the A team from St. Joseph's (6:51.51) and Washington College (7:09.36). Franklin & Marshall finished fourth in 7:26.03.

For a full list of results from the Washington College Invitational, click here.

Catholic returns to action April 13-14 at the Knecht Cup on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill N.J.

Second Varsity Eight
Coxswain: Anna Paviglianiti, Stroke: Meg Higgins, 7: Christine Faber, 6: Sarah Wagner, 5: Hannah Martin, 4: Emma Patterson, 3: Michelle Kilmer, 2: Julianna Okupski, Bow: Glynn Bradley

Varsity Four
Coxswain: Maria Letizia, Stroke: Meghan Walsh, 3: Irene Taylor, 2: Isabel Buckley, Bow: Sarah Beretich