alpine skiing

Jan. 30: Junior James Andersen improved on his best collegiate finish and recorded his second top-10 of the season on Friday, as he claimed fifth place in the Giant Slalom at the 2009 UNH Carnival at Attitash leading the men's alpine ski team to sixth place overall.

Andersen was in second place overall out of 58 competitors after the first run with a time of 1:07.71, only .32 seconds behind leader and eventual champion William Ford of UNH. A second run time of 1:10.46 gave the Putnam Valley, NY native fifth place with a combined time of 2:19.17.

First year student Matt Dodge was the next finisher for the men's team with a time of 2:21.26, while junior Michael Wallman completed the team's scoring in the GS with a time of 2:23.59 for 33rd position. The trio combined for 73.0 points to finish in sixth.

Junior Graham Flinn narrowly missed out on the scoring for St. Lawrence behind a 35th place finish (2:23.97), while senior Doug Brown (39th, 2:24.91) and rookie Scott Houser (DNF 2nd) rounded out the team's line-up.

Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence University women's alpine team battled their way to seventh place in the Giant Slalom despite having two sophomores and four first year students in the line-up. Rookie Elena Rogers paced the team with a 19th place finish, the best of her collegiate career, with a time of 2:29.21 while sophomore Heidi Robbins was next in 24th position at 2:29.92. Sophomore Kelly Skinner completed the team's scoring at 62.5 points in 27th place with a combined time of 2:31.16.

Jan. 24: St. Lawrence University first-year student Lindsay Cone finished with a time of 1:51.18 on Saturday in the Slalom at the 2009 Bates Carnival. The Killington, VT native earned 8th place overall, her second top-10 finish of the weekend, which led the women's alpine team to fifth place in the event. Junior James Andersen led the men's team to a ninth place finish.

Cone, a former member of the US Ski Team, logged a seventh place finish in the Giant Slalom on Friday. Her top-10 finishes are the first for the women's alpine team since 2003.

Sophomore Heidi Robbins came through with a solid 22nd place finish behind a time of 1:57.16, while classmate Kelly Skinner completed the team's scoring in 26th position with a time of 1:59.86. Their contributions brought the Saints' total to 75.0 points, good enough for fifth overall.

First-year students Bond Longley (28th, 2:02.07) and Mackenzie Irwin (DNF) also competed for the women's alpine ski team in the Slalom on Saturday.

Andersen, who also finished in the top-10 on Saturday in the GS, paced the Saints on Saturday in the Slalom as well with a 28th place showing. The Putnam Valley, NY native raced in a time of 1:48.46, while senior Doug Brown (30th, 1:49.30) and rookie Scott Houser (38th, 1:58.77) rounded out the team's scoring. The team combined for 46.0 points to finish in 9th position.

Jan. 23: First-year student Lindsay Cone and junior James Andersen each logged a top-10 finish on Friday in the Giant Slalom at the 2009 Bates Carnival, the opening event of the alpine ski season.

Cone raced in splits of 1:21.59 and 1:19.39 to land in seventh place overall out of 55 competitors. The Killington, VT native's finish is the first top-10 for a St. Lawrence University woman alpine skier since the 2003 season. Meanwhile, Andersen's eighth place showing in the men's Giant Slalom matched his best collegiate finish behind a time of 2:34.82.

Sophomore Heidi Robbins and first-year student Bond Longley completed the women's team's scoring in the event with a total of 72.0 points, good for sixth place. Robbins raced in a time of 2:46.32 for 31st place while Longley was one spot behind with a time of 2:46.46.

Other St. Lawrence competitors in the women's GS were sophomore Kelly Skinner (40th, 2:51.13), junior Meg Howard (44th, 2:58.62) and rookie Mackenzie Irwin (DNF 2nd).

Andersen joined classmate Michael Wallman and first-year student Matthew Dodge in scoring for the men's alpine team on Friday, as the trio combined for 62.0 points to earn eighth place. Wallman and Dodge finished consecutively in 33rd and 34th place with times of 2:39.34 and 2:39.81.

Also representing St. Lawrence in the even on the men's side were sophomore Thatcher Jacques (40th, 2:41.80), senior Doug Brown (DNF 2nd) and rookie Scott Houser (DNF).

Dec. 8: The St. Lawrence University men's and women's alpine ski teams, fresh off their annual training trip to Colorado, returned to Canton, NY eager for the carnival season to begin. The Saints, who have a solid blend of veterans and talented newcomers, expect to climb the ranks of the EISA throughout 2009.

"I was very happy with our team's effort and work ethic during our time in Colorado, and I think everyone had a great time," said St. Lawrence University head alpine ski coach Jeff Pier. "Not only did we ski in both Copper and Loveland, Colorado, but we worked the Women's World Cup Giant Slalom in Aspen, which was truly a great experience for all of us."

The men's squad returns several veterans that will be key to the team's success in 2009. Junior James Andersen, who recorded the Saints' best finish last season with an 8th place showing in the Giant Slalom at the UVM Carnival, has the potential to land a podium finish in his third year with the Scarlet and Brown. Senior captain Doug Brown, junior Michael Wallman and sophomore Thatcher Jacques are also expected to be consistent contributors for the men's team.

Coach Pier and his assistant Abigail Copeland also brought in an impressive trio of first-year students who may have an immediate impact on the program. Scott Houser, Matt Dodge and Britt Wohler add impressive resumes to the men's team, and each of them will look to earn a spot on the 2009 travel roster.