Women's cross country downs Southern Maine, 25-34, in season opener

WESTON, Mass. -- The Brandeis University women's cross country team, ranked 10th in New England opened their 2012 campaign today with a 25-34 win over the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies at Weston High School.

Though the 4.4-kilometer race was won by Southern Maine's Molly Carl in 17:51, Brandeis produced seven of the top 10 finishers to take the nine-point win. Leading the way were a pair of juniors. Victoria  Sanford (Langrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) and Ali Kirsch (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) were neck-and-neck, crossing the finish line in 18:06. USM's Morgan Beede was fourth in 18:15, while Brandeis's Erin Bisceglia (Durham, Conn./Coginchaug), who is back as a graduate student, was fifth in 18:25. Hannah Wiley of the Huskies was sixth in 18:38, followed by Brandeis sophomore Kristi Pisarik (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford). 

A trio of Brandeis rookies finished with a time of 19:31 to place eighth through 10th: Kelsey Whitaker (Kingston, Mass./Notre Dame Acad.); Molly Paris (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth); and Maggie Hensel (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna).

Brandeis returns to action on September 15th, when the Judges travel to their first multi-team meet, the UMass Dartmouth Shriner's Invitational.

RESULTS

Brandeis v USM @ Weston HS

Distance: 4,400m

1: Molly Carl USM - 17:51

2: Victoria Sanford Bran - 18:06

3: Ali Kirsch Bran - 18:06

4: Morgan Beede USM - 18:15

5: Erin Bisceglia Bran - 18:25

6: Hannah Wiley USM: 18:38

7: Kristi Pisarik Bran - 19:10

8: Kelsey Whitaker Bran - 19:31

9: Molly Paris Bran - 19:31

10: Maggie Hensel Bran - 19:31

11: Brooke Maddon USM - 19:42

12: Emily Panciera USM - 19:42

13: Katherine McWilliams USM - 19:42

14: Chelsie Oldfield  USM - 19:42

15: Brooke Davis USM - 19:42

16: Hannah Damron USM - 19:42

17: Nora Owens Bran - 19:48

18: Rachel Keller Bran - 20:01

19: Sophie Hess USM - 20:39

20: Jaqui Black USM - 21:36

21: Anna Whitaker USM - 21:47

Team Score

Brandeis 25 (2,3,5,7,8)

USM 34 (1,4,6,11,12)