PHILADELPHIA  -- The Temple women's freshman/novice eight placed fourth in its semifinal heat Saturday at the 68th Dad Vail Regatta.  The Owls finished four seconds behind third place George Mason and failed to qualify for the final.

The freshman/novice eight, under the direction of first-year novice coach Jen Wesson,  is comprised of freshman Juliana Rausch (bow), freshman Maria DiChiacchio (2), freshman Laura Scullin (3), freshman Carolyn Bailey (4), freshman Katie Reiersen (5), freshman Meghan Shirley (6), sophomore Katie Hoban (7), freshman  Jess Herrmann (stroke) and freshman Jill Ploof (cox).