The Massachusetts rowing team will look to continue its success this season when it heads to Camden, N.J., Saturday to compete in the ECAC Metro League Championships.

The ECAC championship could potentially be the second-to-last race for the Minutewomen this season, as the only remaining event on the schedule is the momentous Dad Vail Regatta, an event that hosts over 100 schools in the country.

UMass coach Jim Dietz realizes his team’s strong season is nearing its end.

‘It comes by too quick. All year long you train for this and in six weeks, it’s over,’ Dietz said.

However, with strong performances this week and next, his team could garner more attention from the NCAA selection committee and extend its season.

Unlike many other collegiate team sports, capturing a conference title does not guarantee a slot in the NCAA rowing championships. Dietz is looking for his team to record some top-three finishes this weekend and feels confident that they will be able to contend with the best teams in the east over the next two weeks.

‘We’re building a lot of confidence after winning the Atlantic 10 Championship last week and the girls are rowing really well,’ Dietz said.

The Varsity eight boat has been impressive all season as well. The boat is coming off a victory against MIT last weekend and has yet to lose in a regatta all season.

The boat had an impressive run of five consecutive ECAC championship victories, but came to a disappointing end last season, when they finished fourth in the race. Bucknell won the event. UMass’ second Varsity eight performed well last year in their race, in which they were able to capture second place.

The race this weekend will feature several of the top rowing teams in the east. Among them will be Bucknell, which earned its fourth consecutive Patriot League rowing title last weekend.

Another quality opponent that will look to challenge the Minutewomen this weekend is Princeton. The Lady Tigers are ranked No. 6 in the nation, and have even been ranked as high as No. 2 overall this season. Princeton has maintained a 6-1 record in a very competitive Ivy League.

Atlantic 10 rival Rhode Island will also participate in the event this weekend. The meeting marks the first time the two teams have squared off since the Minutewomen defeated the Lady Rams by a margin of 24 points in the A-10 championships.

The Cooper River, the site of this weekend’s championships, is familiar water to the Minutewomen. UMass turned in a top-five finish in the Knecht Cup earlier in April there, and then followed that up with a first-place finish in the A-10 championship. Ironically, the river will also be the sight of the NCAA Championships the last weekend in May.

UMass’ performance there this weekend may very well dictate whether or not the Minutewomen return there next weekend.

Jeffrey Engmann can be reached at jengmann@student.umass.edu.