RIDGEFIELD, N.J. – Facing a cross headwind throughout the morning, the Northeastern women's rowing team battled Columbia on Saturday morning, topping the Lions by six seconds to retain the Woodbury Cup for the third straight season.
 
The Huskies lead the all-time series, 18-8, including an 8-5 mark in the cup race. After Columbia had the upper hand in recent years with four cup wins in five years from 2010 to 2014, Northeastern broke through with victories in each of the last three seasons. While the Huskies and Lions have competed for more than two decades, they have raced for the cup only since 2005. The Woodbury Cup is named in memory of former Columbia rower and team captain Melanie Woodbury, a 1996 graduate, who was killed in an automobile accident in 2002.
 
With Haley Doucette as the coxswain and Madison Mailey in the stroke seat, the Huskies flew down the 2000-meter course to finish with a time of 6:50.1, six seconds ahead of Columbia at 6:56.7.
 
Northeastern also found success in the second varsity with a four second win at 7:01.7 while the Lions crossed the finish at 7:05.1.
 
After Columbia found success in the varsity four with a narrow victory by less than a second, Northeastern's second varsity four came back with a two second win with a time of 8:19.5.
 
Northeastern will be off next weekend before returning home to the Charles River on April 22 for its first and only home race of the spring season when the Huskies take on Michigan State and Boston University.
 
Results
First Varsity
Northeastern - 6:50.1
Columbia - 6:56.7

Second Varsity
Northeastern - 7:01.7
Columbia - 7:05.1

Varsity Four
Columbia - 7:49.4
Northeastern - 7:50.25

Second Varsity Four
Northeastern - 8:19.5
Columbia - 8:21.2