February 11, 2012 (Stowe, Vt) – One thing is certain: don’t mess with a Catamount. Vermont returned to the EISA circuit with a roster not yet at full strength and still handily commanded the opening day (Feb. 10) of the Dartmouth Carnival. UVM currently has a 118 point lead over its nearest competitor, the Big Green. Dartmouth and Middlebury sit neck and neck with 382 and 379 points, respectively.

Nordic races were relocated to the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt. as a result of unfavorable snow conditions in Hanover, N.H. In the women’s 5k freestyle event, podium regular Sophie Caldwell of Dartmouth claimed the win with UVM’s Caitlin Patterson and Lucy Garrec hot on her tail in second and third. The men’s 10k saw Middlebury phenom Patrick Johnson back on the top step, joined by two other Panther teammates, Ben Lustgarten and Chase Marston, in the top 10. Dartmouth’s Sam Tarling took a fall when a squirrel errantly crossed his path, but he was able to recover for second place. (The squirrel, however, suffered a much worse fate.) Vermont’s Alexander Howe was third. In overall scoring, a mere 4 points separated the first and third place teams in the men’s race.

The alpine slalom and Nordic classic races of the Dartmouth Carnival will be contested tomorrow (Feb. 11).

Women’s results HERE.
Men’s results HERE.

Team scores at the conclusion of Day 1 of the Dartmouth Carnival:
– Vermont – 500
– Dartmouth – 382
– Middlebury – 379
– New Hampshire – 345
– Bates – 262
– Williams – 262
– Colby – 229
– St. Lawrence – 207
– Harvard – 205
– St. Michael’s – 156
– Colby-Sawyer – 78
– Universite’ Laval -75
– Bowdoin – 75
– Plymouth State – 58
– Boston College – 17