The Lady Bearcats opened the season with a fifth-place finish at the 10-team California University (PA) Invitational in Belle Vernon, PA.

Saint Vincent boasted a pair of medalists, led by Ivette Mejia's fifth-place individual finish (19:17), and Emma Goetz's 13th-place time of 19:52.

Katie Macioce was the third Lady Bearcat finisher of the day, taking 21st overall with a time of 20:35, while SVC's Natalie Wolff took 31st (21:04), Claudia Arrunategui 32nd (21:08), Kelsey Sullivan 41st (25:52), and Brenda Hartman 42nd (21:57).   A total of 109 runners from 10 different schools competed.

The team title was won by Grove City College, with 54 points, followed by California (66), Clarion (90), Seton Hill (95), SVC (102), Mercyhurst (134), Pitt-Johnstown (232), West Liberty (235), Point Park (241), and Muskingum (253).

The individual title went to Mercyhurst's Christie Turak, who covered the 5K course in 17:49, besting second place finisher Erin Klink of Cal U by 49 seconds.

The Lady Bearcats will now return to action next Saturday, traveling to Ohio to take part in the Marietta College Invitational.