By Jim Fenton

WATERFORD, Conn. -- The Bridgewater State University men's cross country team had a solid showing at the Connecticut College Invitational Saturday morning.

The Bears finished seventh in a field of 37 teams in the open eight-kilometer race at the Harkness Memorial State Park course.

Tufts University, ranked ninth in the nation, was first in the open race followed by fourth-ranked New York University second, eighth-ranked Williams College third, 23rd-ranked MIT fourth, 28th-ranked Bates College finished fifth and Middlebury was sixth.

Leading the way for the Bears was senior Kyle Ackroyd (Charlestown, R.I.), who was 13th out of 364 finishers.

Ackroyd's time was 25:43.03 after he checked in at 26:23.05 a year ago.

The second BSU runner to cross the finish line was graduate student Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.).

He was 18th in a time of 25:45.95.

Senior Mitchell Parent (Cumberland, Maine) was 60th for the Bears in 26:32.91 while freshman Tyler Amaral (Dartmouth, Mass.) wound up 81st in 26:53.88.

Junior Aydan Fournier (Assonet, Mass.) was next for the Bears, finishing 159th in 27:51.11.

Four other BSU runners took part in the meet including junior Owen Mackenzie (Plainville, Mass.), who was 237rd; junior Brian Vale (Assonet, Mass.), who placed 248th; junior Nicholas Rodden (Plymouth, Mass.), who was 281st; and freshman Jacob Anuszczyk (Dartmouth, Mass.), who was 296th.

The Bears will next compete on Nov. 1 at the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass.

BSU won the title a year ago, its third championship in five seasons, and has nine MASCAC championships overall.

McBirney was the individual winner at the conference race last season.