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            PAXTON, Mass. -- Sophomore Molly Carl (York, Maine) paced the University of Southern Maine women's cross country team to a second place finish in the Little East Conference and New England Alliance Championships hosted Saturday by Worcester State University at Moore State Park in Paxton, Mass.

            The Huskies were second in the 13-team New England Alliance meet with 82 points.  The Alliance race features five Little East Conference schools and eight institutions from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Huskies were second in Little East scoring with 64 points.  Keene State College swept the two titles for the 11th straight year.

            Carl covered the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19 minutes, 27.2 seconds to finish sixth overall.  Freshman Morgan Beede (Augusta, Maine/Cony) was the second USM runner to cross the finish line, coming home in 14th place overall with a time of 20:31.0.

            Senior Tiffany Binette (Biddeford, Maine) finished in 17th place with her time of 20:44.8, and sophomore Brooke Madden (Dedham, Maine/Brewer) was 21st place with a time of 20:52.4.  Senior Alexandra Raynor (Lamoine, Maine/MDI) completed the Huskies five scoring runners in 24th place with a time of 20:54.7.

            Sophomore Ariel Howes (Farmingdale, Maine/Hall-Dale) also had a top 30 finish among the 137 competitors, finishing 28th with her time of 21:06.4.

            Carl earned All-Little East Conference (top seven) and All-Alliance honors.  Beede and Binette each picked up an All-Alliance citation by finishing in the top 20.

            Keene State junior Paige Mills was the individual winner, covering the course in 18:10.4 to finish nearly 50 seconds ahead of junior teammate Andrew Walsh.  The Owls won the Alliance title scoring 19 points, and the LEC crown with 18 points.

            Southern Maine will take next weekend off and prepare to the NCAA New England Regional Championship to be held November 13 at Mt. Greylock HS in Williamstown, Mass.

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