PHILADELPHIA (May 7) – Seattle Pacific University moved both of its men’s crews into Saturday’s semifinals at the Dad Vail Regatta despite the lightweight four’s first loss of the season in preliminary heats conducted Friday on the Schuykill River.

The lights and the novice four must finish among the first two boats in the semifinal stage to reach the grand final Saturday afternoon.

Seattle Pacific took a 5-0 record into its first race, but placed second to Georgia by 2.1 seconds. The Falcons, whose time of 6:48.4 was fifth-best overall, will join Lowell (Ma.), Central Florida, Pittsburgh, Merchant Marine and favorite Fordham in the next round. The lineup was Joel Braman, stroke; No. 3 Trevor Winters, No. 2 David Stalsbroten, bow Ryan Suess and cox Emily Thomas.

The novice four rebounded from its third-place finish at last week’s regional to easily win its prelim race by 2.4 seconds over Wichita State. They are pitted against Vermont, Jacksonville, Colorado, Michigan State and New York Maritime in the semifinal stage. The lineup was Phil Chase, stroke; No. 3 seat Jeremy Bryant, No. 2 Jason Mobley, box Danny Simmons and coxswain Emily Fletcher.

On Sunday, the SPU women’s varsity four will resume action at the ECAC National Invitational Championships in Worcester, Ma.

Novice 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 7:13.9; 2-Wichita State 7:16.3; 3-Penn State 7:19.8; 4-Lehigh 7:34.5

Lightweight 4: 1-Georgia 6:46.3, 2-Seattle Pacific 6:48.4, 3-Duquesne 6:50.9, 4-Washington U. 6:54.2, 5-LaSalle 7:11.4