Courtesy: Princeton Athletic Communications Princeton won the Fosburgh Cup by more than five seconds against Georgetown.

Men's lightweight head coach Greg Hughes knew his team would be tested early and often in 2009, and he had to be pleased by the first result. In its season and home opener, Princeton swept four races from Georgetown and claimed the Fosburgh Cup with a strong win in the varsity eight competition.

The varsity eight showdown, which determined the winner of the Fosburgh Cup, went to Princeton in a winning time of 6:01.7. Georgetown took second in 6:07.3. The regatta featured two of the top teams in the Princeton Chase competition, one of the premier fall races in lightweight rowing.

The second varsity competition would be the closest of the day, but Princeton had enough at the end to claim the win. The Tigers won in 6:20.3, while Georgetown placed second in 6:21.3. The third varsity competition also went to Princeton in 6:41.4; the Tigers used a spare heavyweight rower in place of an ill lightweight. The Princeton heavyweights were at home Saturday, but their competition with Georgetown and Trinity was a scrimmage.

Hughes and assistant coach Spencer Washburn got their first view of the novice eight, and they had to like what they saw. Princeton won the race in 6:20.5, while Georgetown placed second in 6:25.7.

The lightweights will remain on Lake Carnegie next weekend for the Murtaugh Cup regatta against one of the annual powers in lightweight rowing, Navy. Fans of the Tiger lightweights should to their best to get to Princeton for the Murtaugh Cup competition, as it is the team's final home competition of the year.