WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Temple women's cross country team opened the 2006 season on Saturday with a sixth-place finish at the Monmouth Cross Country Kickoff. Freshman Joanna Duffey paced the Owls with a ninth place finish on the 4k-course at Thompson Park, finishing in a time of 16:07.2.

Sophomore Rachael Angstadt was the next finisher for the Cherry and White, placing 37th in a time of 17:41.1. Freshman Tashae Croxton (40th, 18:17.1), sophomore Reava Potter (45th, 20:21.1) and sophomore Melanie Foxx (46th, 22:43.9) rounded out the Owls' top five runners.

Albany won the meet with 30 points. Host Monmouth was second with 52 points, followed by Wagner (61), Long Island (137), Drew (146), and Temple (177). Albany's Jenna Ortman edged sister Jessica to take the individual title in a time of 14:48.5

Temple returns to action next Saturday, September 9, at the Fordham Invitational at historic Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.