DERBY, Conn.—The Sacred Heart University women's rowing team opened its 2024-25 campaign on Sunday at the Head of the Housatonic hosted by the New Haven Rowing Club on the Housatonic River. The first varsity four picked up the program's first ever medal at the Head of the Housatonic with their third place finish. 

SHU had four boats in the 8+ Collegiate Women's Division I Cup. The Pioneers had a pair of top-10 finishes in the race. The top boat for Sacred Heart finished in fifth, behind Yale, who claimed the top four spots. SHU clocked a time of 15:15.5 for their fifth-place finish. The Sacred Heart's next boat finished 10th overall with a time of 16:02.1, followed by another Pioneers boat at 16:22.2. SHU's final group finished at 17:16.0. 

The Pios won the Women's Collegiate Novice 8+ with a time of 15:49.3. 

SHU had four boats in the Women's Open 4+, with three of the four finishing in the top-10. The Pioneers 'A' boat took third, winning SHU first medal in program history at the event, with a time of 16:53.3. Sacred Heart's 'B' and "D' boats finished back-to-back in sixth (17:30.2) and seventh (17:30.2) place. The final boat for SHU 18:30.0.

The Pioneers are back in action next Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Head of the Charles in Boston, Mass.