Green Bay, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's cross country team opened its 2025 season with a third-place finish at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix Open Saturday at the Phoenix Alumni Cross Country Course at Shorewood Park.

The Eagles finished with 83.0 team points while the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) won the team title with 47.0 points. Northern Michigan University was second with 54.0 points. A total of nine teams competed.

UWL had four runners finish in the top-18, including Lily Higgins with a team-best showing of sixth place (22:16.4). Ryana Mathis was 13^th (22:52.2) for the Eagles while Milana Pisto finished 16^th (22:56.2) and Nora Jillson 18^th (22:58.9).

Five other runners were in the top-44 for UWL as Lauren Wegand placed 31^st (23:14.9), Meredith Gilles 32^nd (23:15.0), Sami Miller 37^th (23:27.3), Taylor Bussiere 38th (23:30.4) and Bryn Sato 44^th (23:35.2).

Ella Woodworth was 51^st (23:41.2), Olivia Heilman 53^rd (23:42.2), Hanna Martensen 58^th (23:52.4), Ella Pahl 65^th (24:01.0), Joelle Duty 67^th (24:02.5), Eileen Zopel 68^th (24:04.2), Claire Jaeger 77^th (24:14.6) and Erin Geisler 78^th (24:14.7).

The Eagles' Ashley Wilson finished 89^th (24:24.2) with Sydney Dee 92^nd (24:28.6), McKenna Michel 97^th (24:39.0), Paige Damman 104^th (24:46.8), Kayla Casperson 113^th (24:53.3) and Kaleigh Burns 118^th (24:59.1).

Anelise Egge of UW-Milwaukee won the individual title (21:39.7). A total of 164 runners completed the race.

UWL is ranked 10^th on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Top-30 Poll in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The Eagles placed 13^th at the 2024 NCAA Division III Championships.

UWL returns to action Saturday, September 20 at the St. Olaf College (Minn.) Invitational at 11 a.m.