BENNINGTON, Vt. The MCLA men's cross country program made a splash Saturday afternoon as it won the 2017 Southern Vermont Invitational.  

 

The Trailblazers placed five runners inside the top 15 as they edged Castleton by a point to claim the meet title.

 

MCLA was paced by Jeremiah Jones. He ran the 5k in a time of 18 minutes, 27 seconds to finish in fourth place. Christopher Gamble was next across with a time of 18:38, good enough for seventh place.  Right behind Gamble was Avery Woodbury who ran the track in 18:41 for eighth place. 

 

Rounding out MCLA's finishers were Corey Powers and Pittsfield's Owen Fitzgerald.

 

The Trailblazers compiled 47 points to edge Castleton (48). Castleton's Grandon Smith won the individual title with a time of 16:56.

 

The Trailblazers will race again next Saturday at the Castleton Inivtational.

 

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

BENNINGTON, Vt. -- The MCLA women's cross country team opened its season at the Southern Vermont Invitational on Saturday, placing sixth.

 

MCLA was paced by first year runner Julie Gambill with a time of 25:59 in the 5k race. Kaitlin Wright was next across for MCLA. She finished in 24th place.

 

Jordan Degaetano finished in 26th place for MCLA while Brenna Castor and North Adams' Hunter Schrade also competed.

 

Green Mountain took home team honors while Kaylyn Crompton of Castleton took home the individual crown.

 

MCLA will race again next weekend at the Castleton Invitational.

 

VOLLEYBALL

POMONA, Calif. -- The MCLA volleyball team fell to Occidental and Chapman by identical 3-0 scores this afternoon on day two of the Pacific Classic

 

In the second game against Chapman, MCLA (0-4) fell by set scores of 25-15, 25-11, and 25-11.

 

Brooke Queripel notched six kills to lead the offense for MCLA while Mele Enomoto had a team best 11 digs. Tayler Wiese dished out 9 assists on offense.

 

In the opener against Occidental, MCLA fell 25-9, 25-15, and 25-10. 

 

Becket's Sara LaFreniere and Maggie Allen each had four kills to pace the offense while Enomoto once again led the team in digs with 13.

 

MCLA was hampered by 24 errors in the opening game loss.

 

MCLA heads back east for their home opener against Mount Holyoke on Tuesday night at 7.

 

WOMEN'S SOCCER

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Rivier's Carley Bostwick potted the lone goal in the 40th minute to lift the visiting Raiders to a 1-0 win over the MCLA Trailblazers on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

 

MCLA outshot the Raiders in both halves and owned a 22-7 advantage in shots for the match. The Trailblazers, however, couldn't convert their chances while Bostwick made the most of her. She gathered a deflected shot off the foot of Cheyanne Keets and ripped a shot to the lower corner that caromed past Trailblazer keeper Megan Richardson (Adams) for a 1-0 lead. 

 

In the second, MCLA had numerous chances to net the equalizer as they outshot the visitors 13-3. MCLA's Kaylyn Holliday had a few good looks, but the best opportunity came with six minutes left when freshman player Brooke Mangiardi (Pittsfield) broke past the Raider defense. She dribbled into the box and get a good angle on keeper Lauren Goodspeed. Mangiardi ripped a shot that Goodspeed deflected to keep the score at 1-0.

 

Over the final five minutes, MCLA would get a few shots off, but Goodspeed was up to the task.

 

Goodspeed would end the match with 9 saves to earn her first win of the season.

 

Richardson stopped three shots for MCLA in a losing cause.

 

The Trailblazers continue their five0game homestand to open the season on Tuesday when they host St. Joseph (Conn.) at 4 p.m.