The St. Lawrence University Nordic ski team took to the course for the first time to open the 2021 EISA season with a women's 7-kilometer and a men's 10-kilometer skate at the University of New Hampshire Carnival at the Jackson XC Touring Center in Jackson, New Hampshire on Thursday afternoon.

Steph Nicols led the Saints with a career-best second-place finish in the women's 7-kilometer skate, posting a time of 23 minutes and 7.7 seconds to earn 47 EISA points and 80 NCAA points for a career-best finish. Gabrielle Wangler and Sydney Peterson rounded out the top-three scorers for St. Lawrence finishing 13th and 15th, respectively.

On the men's side, Timothy Cunningham also posted a career-best result earning a sixth-place finish in the 10-kilometer skate with a time of 32:41.1, good for 41 EISA points and 45 NCAA points. Charlie Reinhardt placed seventh and Kai Richter finished ninth to round out the top three on the men's side. 

"Definitely a bright spot for us today was Steph Nicols," said head coach Ethan Townsend '98. "She has worked hard to get to this spot and she deserves it, she's made the jump which is cool to see. We've got a big first-year group and they're excited to be competing with is awesome. On the guys side, Tim was pretty happy with his day as well. UNH is definitely a top team and for our groups to be in their top six is great to see. We're happy to get in a race, it was a beautiful calm day with no wind and we're looking forward to tomorrow."

With only two teams competing, the Saints ended day one in second place with 240 team points, while UNH took first with 276.

The Saints will return to the Jackson XC Touring Center for day two of the UNH Carnival tomorrow, January 29.

Women's 7K Skate Results

2nd – Steph Nicols – 23:07.7, 47 EISA points, 80 NCAA points
13th – Gabrielle Wangler – 25:23,4, 39 EISA points, 32 NCAA points
15th – Sydney Peterson – 25:42.5, 37 EISA points, 29 NCAA points
16th – Robyn McIntosh – 26:12.7, 26 NCAA points
17th – Samantha Nolan – 26:33.7
18th – Jordan Schuster – 26:37.9, 24 NCAA points
19th – Elizabeth Barsness – 26:53.0
20th – Claire Wagner – 26:55.8, 22 NCAA points
21st – Amanda Vansant – 27:14.6

Men's 10K Skate Results

6th – Timothy Cunningham – 32:41.1, 41 EISA points, 45 NCAA points
7th – Charlie Reinhardt – 33:16.0, 39 EISA points, 40 NCAA points
9th – Kai Richter – 34:06.4, 37 EISA points, 32 NCAA points
10th – George David Gowdy – 34:20.0, 29 NCAA points
11th – Cameron Brochu – 36:21.8, 26 NCAA points