In the season-opening HWS Challenge on the Canal, the William Smith varsity eight of Kim Goral, Libby Hughes, Katie Paige, Sarah Gordon, Emily Andersen, Leila Peraro, Caroline DeWeirdt, Alyssa Trebilcock and Jess Steketee set the tone in the first race of the day, cruising down the course in 17:07 to post a 23 second victory over Division I Canisius College and a 24 second margin over Ithaca College.