FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University rowing teams will get a first-hand look at several of their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) competitors as well as several of the region's top rowing programs this weekend as all will meet at the Knecht Cup this weekend. The event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on the Cooper River in New Jersey.

"This weekend provides a great opportunity for women to see how we fare against conference rivals Sacred Heart, Jacksonville, Marist, Stetson and Canisius," Director of Rowing Dr. David Patterson said. "Without question, this race is the hardest event in which our women will compete this year.  The heats at the Knecht Cup are typically faster than the Grand Final in the MAAC Championship. But it is also a great race because it provides an opportunity to our team where we can practice and learn how to handle the stress of higher level competition.

"For the men's team competition is always going to challenge us but we all know it is incumbent on us to learn how to row at the level of our competition," Patterson continued. "It will be interesting to see how our freshman eight progresses in their straight final on Sunday against, for the first time this season, only other freshman eights. This is a crew we are clearly investing in as a foundation for the program building to the future so a positive performance will really help."

The freshman/novice 8 will include coxswain Cedric Wysocki, Grant Retelny, Braeden Gibbons, Matthew Benestad, Vincent DiPalo, Trevor Buti, John Blaney, Anthony Tapinis, and Andrew Herman this weekend. The Stags will race Case Western Reserve University, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the United States Military Academy, Fordham University, the University of Pittsburgh.

The Fairfield women's program will compete in three events over the weekend including the varsity 4, the varsity 8, and the second varsity.

"The varsity 8 found good speed and competitiveness in the past couple of weeks so the challenge is to see how they perform in this higher level environment." Patterson said. "The second varsity 8 is heading in the right direction but definitely are looking to put together a more complete race while working on some aspects of their race management. The V4 are also looking to get the opportunity to gel."

In addition to the freshmen/novice 8, the men's team will send boats out for the varsity 8 and the second varsity 8 events.

For live racing results, please visit Regatta Central throughout the weekend.