The Coast Guard Academy women's sailing team won the New England Championship on Sunday for the first time in program history, clinching a spot in the National Championship semifinals on May 24 in San Diego.

The Bears won both the A and B divisions in a meet hosted by Yale University to win the Jerry Reed Trophy. Coast Guard trailed Boston College and Rhode Island after Saturday's first day of competition, but posted consecutive top five finishes on Sunday morning to take the lead.

"It was impressive to see how quickly we were able to chip away at the lead," coach Brian Swingly said. "Our game plan was to gain a point or two each race over the course of the remaining twelve races. We did it in half that time, then proceeded to open up a huge lead of our own."

Coast Guard took the lead with just one race remaining and went on to win the final races of the day in each division to beat Boston College.

Nikole Barnes and Anna Morin won A Division with 79 points. They won five of the 16 races. Dana Rohdeand Hannah Herring won the B Division with 83 points, putting a mere nine points over six races on the scoreboard Sunday, a performance that boosted CGA to the title.

"After finishing a very close second to BC last year, this one feels good," Swingly said. "They have been a perpetual powerhouse in NEISA that we have the utmost respect for. It was a great battle between two great teams. "