CORVALLIS, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women’s rowing team opened the 2012 Fall Season with a dual meet last weekend against the Oregon State Beavers on the Willamette River. Portland raced a first and second eight against three boats from OSU.

The event consisted of three 3,000 meter races. The first 3,000 was a head race (time trial) for seeding purposes, and the final two races were side-by-side with lanes assigned based on the results of the head race.
 
In the first time trial, UP rowed its first eight against Oregon State’s A and B boats. Portland was in lane two for the second race and finished second to the OSU A boat. In the third piece, Oregon State A again finished in first place.
 
Portland’s second eight then had a slim victory in the time trial format over OSU’s third boat. The Beavers won the second race (head-to-head), and Portland won the third piece.
 
“We want to thank Oregon State for being excellent hosts and giving the team the opportunity to get race experience,” said Portland head coach Bill Zack. “I thought the team did a really good job in unfamiliar territory with borrowed equipment. This will help a lot in the preparation for the Portland Fall Classic.”
 
The Portland Fall Classic is set for Oct. 28 on the Willamette River in downtown Portland.