HADLEY, Mass. -- The Fairfield University men's rowing team placed six entries in the 2018 Amherst Invitational and all six of those crews finished in the top three of their respective events as the Stags enjoyed a successful start to the spring season. The varsity 4, the second varsity 8 and the second varsity 4 all saw a Stag shell garner gold in the season-opening event.

The second varsity 8 race featured a Fairfield lightweight crew that won the event with a time of 5:54 which was 20 seconds better than runner-up UConn's finish (6:14). Amherst was a distance third as it finished its run in 6:33. Fairfield's entry included Mark Soldatic, Greg Coppola, Garrett White, Max Vazquez, Seamus O'Brien, Chris Lamberti, Sean Crosby, Liam Creegan, and coxswain Alyssa McNally. The varsity 4 also collected a first-place run by getting past UConn (6:29) and Massachusetts Maritime (7:41). The Stags crossed the finish line in 6:18 behind the efforts of William Quentin, John Imor, Casey Fuller, Lars Erickson, and coxswain Matt Marshall.

In the second varsity 4 event, Fairfield placed two boats in the race and ended up taking first and second in the four-team event. Mark Soldatic, Gregory Coppola, Garrett White, Seamus O'Brien, and coxswain Peter Wihbey comprised the first-place crew (6:42), while Mike Clarkson, Matthew Sutter, Matthew Daza, Charles Cooper, and coxswain Garrett Strauss combined for a time of 7:13 which secured second place. UConn took third place after posting a time of 7:48, followed by Massachusetts Maritime (8:31). 

The varsity 8 competed in a field of three and came away with second place behind a winning run by UConn (5:45). The Stags used the talents of Mike Clarkson, Matthew Sutter, William Quentin, John O'Neill, James Mulhall, John Imor, Casey Fuller, Lars Erickson, and coxswain Matt Marshall. Amherst rounded out the field by crossing the line in 6:00. The novice 4 rounded out the day's competition by earning a third-place finish behind a pair of UConn entries. The Huskies posted the top two times of 7:21 and 7:26 while Fairfield recorded a time of 7:31. Massachusetts Maritime took the fourth place slot with its time of 9:01. Fairfield's entry included Thomas Cole, Vinny Caruolo, Brendan Smith, August Feliciano, and coxswain Brendan Coyle.

"It was a beautiful day with great rowing conditions," Men's Rowing Head Coach Charles Huthmaker. "The guys really showed that the hard winter training and our spring break was very effective. We are looking forward to our next test against conference rival Marist along with USMA, Rutgers, and Vassar."