PHILADELPHIA, PA - Highlighting their first competition of 2006, the La Salle University Men's and Women's Crew teams sent four of six boats to their respective finals at the Murphy Cup on the Schuylkill River, Saturday.

Three men's boats made it to the finals, as the Men's Frosh/Novice Four, the Men's 2nd Varsity Eight, and the Men's Varsity Eight advanced, while the Women's Frosh/Novice Four also made the finals.

Opening the day for the Explorers in the event's 10th race, the Women's Frosh/Novice Four placed third in its heat in a time of 8:36.17, good enough to advance to the finals. In that race, though, they could only manage to stop the clock in 8:51.04 to take sixth.

The Men's Frosh/Novice Four faired one place better in its heat (race #13), as they finished in 7:42.31 good for second. In the finals, the men were 10 seconds slower (7:52.31), but still managed a fifth-place finish.

In the Men's 2nd Varsity Eight (race #21), the Explorers took second (6:48.35) in their heat to advance. They placed fifth in the finals in a time of 6:53.70.

In the Men's Varsity Eight, the Explorers took third in their heat (6:21.38), but were still able to get to the finals, where they finished in a time of 6:39.53 in sixth place, in the day's final race.

Despite finishing second (7:08.51) in their heat in the Women's DI Varsity Eight, the Explorers did not advance to the finals in that event. The Women's 2nd Varsity Eight team also did not advance, as they finished fifth in their heat (7:34.81).